Resident disputes $3,600 water charge on tax bill; council agrees to investigate

A resident who identified himself as Jimmy phoned into the McClusky City Council meeting to contest about $3,600 in water charges that appear on his property tax statement. "I got a $3,600 bill...this is insane...it needs to be taken off," he told councilors, saying he had received only a returned $83 bill and otherwise no reliable notice.

Council members explained the town has an automatic minimum water charge that can be placed on taxes and said multiple mailed bills to the address on file had been returned over several years. Members said part of the problem traces to prior office handling, repeatedly referencing a former staff member, and acknowledged the council should have ensured delinquent amounts were placed on taxes earlier. One council member told the caller, "We're going to investigate into it and see if we can change anything and then we'll contact you." The caller asked that any adjustment also apply to other residents in the same situation.

Councilors said the town's ordinance sets minimum monthly charges for water service and that amounts older than the current tax notice had already been assessed to county taxes in prior years (tax assessments are processed in October). Members agreed to set aside the disputed collection for review and assigned Mr. Martin to investigate the returned-mail history, billing records, and options for reassessment or partial forgiveness. The council did not adopt an immediate financial remedy during the meeting and promised to report back to the caller after the investigation.

Next steps: the council will review billing records, confirm which years were placed on county taxes, and inform the caller of any correction or payment plan the municipality can legally implement.