Council approves placement of delinquent city charges on property taxes after debate over late fee waiver

The St. Francis City Council voted Nov. 3 to place miscellaneous delinquent city charges — including unpaid utility bills, storm water fees, administrative citations and one unpaid permit review fee — on next year’s property taxes, following the city’s annual special-assessment process.

Darcy, a city staff member, told the council these are delinquent bills that go on next year’s taxes and noted that the list will change slightly while payments are accepted in the coming days. A member of the public, Don Stany, asked what items were included and whether the special assessment would be added on top of other assessments; staff reiterated that the list covers delinquent city bills.

Council debated whether to write off a 10% late fee for an account whose owner said they had received only two of four notices. Darcy said the city could not unilaterally write off the late fee — "I can't write that late fee off. The council would be the one that would have to write that late fee off unless I find a mistake of some sort like it was misposted or whatever like that." Council members weighed postal service error against the administrative purpose of the fee, noting the fee covers postage and staff time.

After discussion the council voted to approve the miscellaneous special assessments. The motion was made by Councilman Udvig and seconded; the roll call vote recorded the mayor and council members present as voting in favor and one member excused for the night. Darcy told the council that the late fee in the specific case would total $20 for two $10 late fees on two properties.

The council’s action places the delinquent amounts on property tax bills next year; owners who pay before final publication may remove their accounts from the list. The council did not vote to waive the 10% fee in the meeting record; staff said waivers would require council authorization or a demonstrated clerical error.