Tax Deadbeats Could be Made Public

How much should your neighbors know about you? 

If a Hartford council member has her way, some details you might not want revealed could be. 

Veronica Airey-Wilson, a 16-year council member thinks publishing the names and last known address of “tax deadbeats” might help track down people to pay up. She also thinks this is a chance for the Capitol city to collect delinquent taxes from people who owe money.

Airey-Wilson raised the proposal on June 29 at a special council meeting.  Since it was a special meeting with a limited agenda, the request was not acted on, but Airey-Wilson said she’ll later propose it again. 

Now, back taxes from active tax rolls will be rolled into an account called the Suspense Book.  At the special meeting, the council moved  $563,750 in uncollected personal property taxes dating back to the 2003 grand list.

Marc Nelson, the city tax collector, said Thursday that moving an account to the Suspense Book is only an accounting function for doubtful collections.

"It does not imply in any way that collection activity ceases," Nelson said.

Collection agencies use various databases to track down debtors, sometimes years after the person's tax bill has become delinquent, Nelson said.

The city continues its collection efforts, including suing debtors, attaching income or assets, issuing "alias tax warrants" to force payment and using outside collection agencies to pursue overdue accounts, he said.
 

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