PARIS — The town put liens on 220 properties Aug. 3, the most in its history.
The liens are for taxes owed in fiscal year 2010-11 and mark a nearly 38 percent increase from the 159 last year. The second highest number of liens was 175 in 2008-09.
The town puts liens on properties of residents who fail to respond to a 30-day notice sent to the owner and mortgage holder.
Town Clerk Elizabeth Knox said a few residents have paid up since Aug. 3. “We probably don’t have that many still-liened accounts,” she said Monday.
Taxes due on the 220 delinquent accounts amount to $179,685, according to a handout Knox gave to selectmen. Fewer than half of 369 property owners who received 30-day notices have paid up.
The cost of sending out lien notices is significant. Knox’s handout said each notice costs $13 to mail, for a total cost of $2,860. Mailing costs for tax notices are billed to residents.
Last year, of the 159 liens placed, the town went on to send out 54 foreclosure notices.
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