Brookfield tax collector reports $128,000 in back taxes and plans outreach before deeding

Brookfield’s tax collector reported a significant backlog of unpaid property taxes and outlined steps to collect before pursuing deeding.

Rose, the town’s tax collector, told the selectboard she placed liens on 23 map-and-lot accounts for unpaid 2025 taxes, reporting a lien total of $72,265.40. She said she had sent certified letters, asked abstractors to search for mortgages, and planned to notify mortgagees so lenders might satisfy past-due amounts to avoid second-position liens. Rose said she expects to begin deeding actions in late April or around May 20 depending on abstractor responses.

Beyond those specific liens, Rose presented a town-wide total of roughly $128,000 owed across 2023–2025. She noted that the town will cover shortfalls from its undesignated balance in the short term while collection continues; board members said the figure is lower than some prior years, which previously ran $150,000–$170,000.

Board members discussed contacting owners directly before deeding, noting one small residual balance (about $105) that might be resolved with a phone call; they agreed outreach was a fair next step. Rose said certified letters had been mailed previously and that mortgage companies often pay current taxes, leaving only residual old balances to resolve.

The board also approved a timber tax warrant (map 1726A) for $112.93 to be sent to the tax collector for recovery and moved to approve the manifest of bills (total presented at $110,140.46). Those financial motions passed by voice vote without roll-call tallies.