NORWICH – The City of Norwich is responsible by local law to levy the taxable properties in the city on behalf of Chenango County and the amount owed the county this year is $2.175 million, or about $2,000 less than last year.
County lawmakers adopted a resolution that detailed the amount as they tied up remaining 2013 fiscal business last week. All of the other municipalities rely on the Chenango County tax department to collect their taxes. All tax bills will be mailed in the coming weeks, said Clerk of the Board RC Woodford.
The city will remit, in installments, what’s due back to the county by June of next year. Whether or not it is able to collect the amount from property owners, the city makes the county whole. No city properties in arrears end up in the county’s annual tax sale; the city has its own sale of delinquent properties each year in November. Properties must be in arrears for three years before foreclosure.
Other resolutions adopted, include: the amount owed on behalf all government employees and volunteer fire fighters for worker’s compensation insurance, about $1.666 million for 2,200 employees (The city of Norwich and towns and villages pay half); and the amounts towns will receive via collections from the county general levy for public works, a total of about $2.863 million.
The county collects taxes on behalf of towns’ special districts for emergency fire and ambulance coverage and improvements as specified in their respective budgets. Columbus Supervisor Tom Grace voted against one of three special district taxes to be raised in the town he represents. He said there were competing bids for services to cover Columbus - between $40,000 and $12,000 - and his town board “chose the higher amount in error.” He voted against the $60,409 amount to be raised for the district in question.