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CFO: eCollect has recovered more than $2 million; city will improve public tracking of delinquent-fee collections
Summary
CFO Richard Troutman said eCollect recovered over $2 million last year and described the collections approach as progressive with options for distressed residents; council members asked for clearer public tracking and photos documenting ARPA-funded asset purchases.
At the Feb. 11 Budget & Finance Committee meeting, CFO Richard Troutman described the city’s eCollect arrangement, saying it focuses on recovering delinquent real-estate and rubbish fees and “we've collected about well over, well over $2,000,000 last year.”
Troutman told the committee the city typically collects less than 80% of billed amounts in the year the bills are issued and that eCollect was engaged to help reduce delinquencies. He described the process as progressive: notices and letters are sent, and if a homeowner notifies the city or eCollect that they are distressed, payment plans stop further enforcement. "This process has never been intended to go after the 82 year old Social Security person," Troutman said.
Council members asked whether forms of enforcement beyond property liens exist; Troutman described the outreach and letter process and reiterated the availability of payment plans and adjustments for indigent residents. Several council members urged the city to publish more concrete, visual evidence of completed purchases—photos of vehicles and before-and-after images for facilities—to demonstrate how ARPA and city funds are being used. Communications staff (Adrian) agreed to work on more visually appealing public posting of project trackers and photos.
What’s next: staff will improve public-facing ARPA and procurement transparency on the city website and follow up with specific documentation for completed purchases.
