The findings and intent of the proposed amendment are explained in this way:
The Common Council of the City of Hudson finds there is presently a significant number of properties in the City that are delinquent on property taxes and are at risk of foreclosure, including a substantial number of owner-occupied homes. The Common Council recognizes that the loss of owner-occupied homes through tax foreclosure has a destabilizing effect on neighborhoods, decreases homeownership rates, and imposes long-term economic and social costs on the community. It is the intent of the Common Council with this local law to provide an avenue for delinquent taxpayers—especially those who are owner-occupants—to retain their homes through a structured, fair, and time-limited repayment program.
COPYRIGHT 2025 CAROLE OSTERINK
The irony. Our pro-housing mayor has created an untenable situation for a handful of homeowners, one that an additional year for repayment likely isn't going to help.
ReplyDeleteWHEREAS, the Mayor of Hudson has, for the past six years, boldly redefined “governing” as “not collecting taxes,” thus allowing a steadily growing number of property owners to skip out on their obligations without consequence,
ReplyDeleteAND WHEREAS, the same administration has also generously excused unpaid parking tickets (especially when issued to the mayor himself), demonstrating a refreshing commitment to the principle of “rules for thee, not for me,”
AND WHEREAS, the Mayor has not once paid property taxes but has nevertheless managed to “lead” the city into repeated fiscal shortfalls, conveniently papering over the gaps by raiding the rainy day fund and burdening responsible taxpayers with higher rates and unfair “welcome stranger” reassessments,
AND WHEREAS, the City Council, finally fed up, had to force His Worship’s hand into hiring legal counsel to begin collections, because apparently someone in city hall had to pretend we’re running a functioning municipality,
NOW THEREFORE, let it be known that this City will continue its grand tradition of rewarding financial negligence by creating a new, gentler, friendlier, and even longer repayment plan for delinquent property owners:
Because after six years of looking the other way, it turns out some folks owe more in back taxes than they could reasonably pay in a single lifetime, and we certainly wouldn’t want consequences to enter the picture now.
Under this exciting new plan:
• Just 10% down is required (because 25% was apparently too mean),
• Followed by three leisurely years to pay the rest (because urgency is for suckers who pay on time),
• And of course, this program is only available for a limited time — January 15, 2026 to January 15, 2027, just long enough to limp past another election cycle.
I don’t know about the rest of you but if I don’t pay my taxes my mortgage holder will pay them for me, and then foreclose on me themselves.
ReplyDelete