Delinquent tax payment plan proposal moves forward

KINGSTON, N.Y. >> A proposed local law to make it easier for certain property owners to enter into a repayment plan for their delinquent taxes has been amended to apply to properties with three or fewer units.

During a meeting Tuesday, the Common Council held its “first reading” of a proposed local law to amend the section fo the city code dealing with the payment of delinquent taxes. While the council’s Laws and Rules Committee had endorsed a resolution amending the requirements for the owners of properties with four units or less to enter into a payment plan, the council suspended its rules to vote on an amendment to reduce the number of units to three.

That amendment was adopted by a vote of 7-0. Alderwomen Barbara Hill, DWard 1, and Michele Hirsch, D-Ward 9, were absent.

Majority Leader Rita Worthington, D-Ward 4, said the amendment was made to align the proposed local law with other parts of the city’s code dealing with homestead and non-homestead properties. Properties with three or fewer units would fall under the homestead, or residential class, while those with four or more units would be in the commercial, or non-homestead, category.

City Corporation Counsel Barbara Graves-Poller previously told aldermen that property owners are currently charged 25% of the eligible delinquent taxes as a down payment to enter into a payment installment plan.

If the proposed local law is adopted, the down payment for an owner-occupied residential property of three units or less would be an amount equal to the first installment payment. All other properties would continue to pay the 25% down payment amount.

The payment installment plans run for 24 months, with the property owner able to make monthly, quarterly, or semiannual payments.

The council is expected to have a second reading and vote on the proposed local law during its regular monthly meeting in December. Local laws require two separate readings before the council can act on them.