Fall River seeing higher rate of tax collection

The department’s head, Ian Schachne, said he and his staff have been working diligently with taxpayers, which is the reason tax collection has been successful.

FALL RIVER — The collector’s office had a good year in fiscal 2018 with the tax title takings the lowest in recent years.

The department’s head, Ian Schachne, said he and his staff have been working diligently with taxpayers, which is the reason tax collection has been successful.

“We’ve been aggressive but fair. We’re really out there more,” said Schachne.

In 2016, the city was owed more than $1 million in back taxes. In FY18, that amount currently is $838,000.

Duro Textile, a consistent tax scofflaw, owes $250,000 of that amount. Last year the company owed almost $600,000, but the owner, New York City-based Patriarch Properties, paid the back taxes when the city began proceedings to take it by tax title.

Duro, which owns four different parcels, abruptly shuttered its factories the summer of 2016, leaving more than 157 workers stunned and without jobs.

Schachne shared a few other facts regarding FY18 tax title taking:

- Of the 21,000 tax bills sent out, 284 went unpaid.

- The top 10 delinquent taxpayers owe 40 percent of the $838,000.

- Of the top 10 delinquent taxpayers, Duro takes the top four spots.

The collector’s office has been working with the delinquent taxpayers sending letters and notices and following up with telephone calls.

“We’ve been reaching out and teaching them how this works,” said Schachne. “It’s about education and people have been very responsive.”

Property owners who owe have until Aug. 24 to pay up before tax title taking goes into effect and 14 percent interest plus fees are levied.

Last year properties in tax title were charged about $400 in fees alone.

Email Jo C. Goode at jgoode@heraldnews.com