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New resident urges Bel Air to notify homebuyers about annual city tax bills and flags sewer-bill email privacy
Summary
A new Bel Air resident asked the town to notify new homeowners when city taxes are billed annually to prevent unexpected arrears; she also raised concerns that a third-party sewer-bill vendor sends email receipts containing account data that could be a security risk.
During the public-comment period at the Feb. 2 Bel Air Board meeting, Julia Ernest, who said she recently closed on a home in September, told the board she believed she had paid city taxes at closing and was surprised to discover city taxes are billed annually.
"I would like to suggest that maybe when the town knows that there is a new resident, that they receive a bill so they don't become behind in paying those taxes," Ernest said. She said she was charged daily interest on the unpaid amount and described the experience as “a little bit irritating.”
Ernest also raised a privacy concern about the town's sewer-billing process. She said the third-party vendor that sends email receipts after residents sign up for sewer billing includes account information and particulars in the receipt email, which she said increases the risk that sensitive data could be exposed if emails are hacked. Town staff responded during the meeting that the receipts are generated by a third-party vendor and that the town selected the vendor; the exchange flagged a potential operational/privacy follow-up for staff.
The board welcomed Ernest to town and thanked her for the suggestion. Commissioners said staff would look into whether the sign-up form offers options about email receipts and how the town might notify new homeowners about annual city tax billing.
