By Barb Pert Templeton
A July 15 meeting of the Algonac City Council had resident Eileen Tesch asking questions about tax bills that were mailed to residents but were missing a line item.
Tesch spoke during public comments about a “glitch” in the city’s recent tax bills.
She said at first residents were excited thinking their taxes were significantly less and then it was all over social media that it was a glitch in the system.
Tesch then stated that in her conversations ‘with many of the clerks in the county that is the worst nightmare and a very costly mistake.”
“Because it is, as you know, a very costly mistake, I’d like to know what the cost is, we would like to know, what the cost is for that mistake or glitch and who’s responsible?” Tesch said. “Everybody makes mistakes, okay, but these mistakes are costing the taxpayers a lot of money.”
Tesch also commented on the city’s “deteriorating infrastructure” and how it’s a serious problem now “hanging over their heads.”
“Just bringing to your attention the concerns of many of the residents,” Tesch added.
When contacted via email after the meeting City Manager Denice Gerstenberg said there was no “glitch” regarding the city tax bills.
“When the tax bills were printed, the city operating tax line item was not on the bill,” Gerstenberg explained. “We have had maybe five residents complain about this issue. Everyone has been very understanding. Most people knew right away that there was a mistake and that they didn’t all of a sudden owe far less in taxes than they did last year.”
Blue Water Healthy Living sent a number of questions to Gerstenberg via email to address more specific aspects of the incident.
Blue Water Healthy Living: What was sent out to the taxpayers that had this “glitch” on it?
Algonac City Manager Denice Gerstenberg: The summer tax bill was sent out without the city operating line item.
BWHL: How does something like this happen? Computer error or?
Gerstenberg: Probably a human omission or input error.
BWHL: Did the city start getting phone calls about the errors or how did you discover there was a problem?
Gerstenberg: The city received one phone call, to me, on Friday July 4, the holiday weekend.
BWHL: How soon did the corrected bills go out?
Gerstenberg: New bills were mailed out on Tuesday, July 8.
BWHL: Does an error like this prompt additional work for the city staff?
Gerstenberg: Approximately 50% of Algonac residents have escrow accounts through their mortgage lenders, and therefore were not affected by this issue. Closer to the date the taxes are due, mortgage lenders request an electronic file of their client’s tax bills. For residents who had already made payments online, through the mail or by drop box, they received a letter along with a revised tax bill showing the remaining amount due, if applicable.
BWHL: Is there a cost incurred to correct the problem in terms of manpower in the city offices?
Gerstenberg: The correct bills were mailed. So, there was an additional postage cost.
Councilman weighs in
During his council comments during the meeting Councilman Michael Bembas appeared to address the tax and the infrastructure issue too. He said while he appreciates anyone that comes before the council during public comments there are some who are coming up for their “own egos” and are “spin doctors waiting for the next sound bite.”
“The city did their best to keep your taxes as low as possible over for the last 20 years on that water bill and I think they did an excellent job,” he added. “Please don’t buy into the spin or the person looking for a sound bite.”
“And just to set the record straight we did not neglect the sewer stuff we did our best over all these years to keep everyone’s taxes as low as possible,” Bembas said.
