The process followed is to complete a certification process of delinquent accounts twice per year. This twice per year process is unusual for metro area cities, but protects the city by accelerating the process of establishing the unpaid amounts as a lien on the property and avoiding issues that may arise by property owners filing bankruptcy. The certification process also serves as the city’s “collection agency” and collection process.

The spring certification process started with 1,041 letters being sent March 1, 2016 to all customers who had a delinquent balance, notifying them that if the account was not paid by March 24, 2016, the delinquent amounts would be certified for collection. Once this payment deadline passed, a list of remaining unpaid delinquent accounts was prepared and is included for the certification process. Following the Council calling for a public hearing, a certification letter will be sent to the delinquent accounts notifying them of the public hearing and the proposed certification amount. Following the public hearing on May 26, 2016 and Council adoption of an assessment roll, property owners will have 30 days to pay at City offices prior to the list being certified to the county for collection.

Currently, the total amount of the proposed assessment is $137,712.06 and represents 504 accounts. This amount is down from the fall 2015 certification total of $152,995.06 which included 563 accounts. It is also lower than the spring 2015 amount of $162,824.67 which included 515 accounts.

History of recent certifications:

The ultimate adoption of the assessment roll and the collection of the certified amounts will result in avoiding the writing off of $137,712.06 of previously billed utility revenues.