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Colonial Beach council approves plan to use outside collector for delinquent personal property taxes, will notify residents before 20% fee begins
Summary
After a public hearing, Colonial Beach council authorized using a private collector for delinquent personal property taxes and agreed to begin the 20% collection fee on Jan. 1 with notice via utility bills, social media and the town website.
Colonial Beach’s town council voted Wednesday to authorize an outside agency to collect delinquent personal property taxes and to begin charging the vendor’s 20% collection fee starting Jan. 1, after agreeing to give residents advance notice.
The item, Resolution 27-25, was introduced by Adam (speaker 10), who explained the vendor (TACS) requires council action to apply the 20% fee. Adam said the town can refer accounts to collections once they are six months delinquent.
At a public hearing Nigel Long of 115 Lynnhaven Court told the council he was "totally in favor" of the proposal but suggested the town add a clear notice to tax bills warning that accounts sent to collections will incur an additional 20% fee. "That might also make sure that delinquent taxpayers are aware of what's coming for them if they don't pay," Long said.
Council members debated the timing and method of notifying taxpayers. Town Manager Natasha Tucker and staff recommended placing a notice in the next utility bill and posting to the town website and social media so residents would have several weeks’ notice before the fee is assessed in January. Councillors said the approach gives taxpayers an opportunity to avoid the additional charge.
One council member asked whether delaying the start would risk revenue; staff said the timing mainly affects notice and that many outstanding accounts are already older than six months. After a brief procedural exchange over whether to delay the vote, the council approved the policy direction to proceed with collections beginning Jan. 1 and with the outreach plan. The vote was recorded in the meeting roll call and the motion passed.
The council closed the public hearing after hearing Long’s comments and moved to implement the notice campaign ahead of the January start date.
The council made no substantive changes to the ordinance language tonight; the action authorizes staff to proceed with the vendor relationship and the outreach plan. Any further timing changes or contract specifics will be reflected in future staff reports.
