Q&A
DOF's assistance to homeowners with outstanding property taxes and improvements in notices
1:29:32
·
152 sec
Council Member Sanchez inquires about the ways DOF assists homeowners with outstanding property taxes and the improvements made to notices. Deputy Commissioner Hill explains the extensive work done to enhance notices and outreach efforts.
- DOF has improved notices to clearly show amounts owed and payment requirements
- New notices highlight important information in red and provide specific details about lien sale amounts
- DOF has increased outreach efforts, including multiple notice types and online resources
- Customer support is available through helplines, tax advocates, and various payment options
Pierina Ana Sanchez
1:29:32
If a homeowner has outstanding property tax that can you can you walk us through what are the different ways that DOF provides assistance to these homeowners?
1:29:41
And for instance, I I hope this is no longer the case, but I know that the notices that DOF used to send out.
1:29:48
If they had outstanding amounts, they were they were just listed.
1:29:51
There was no special notice.
1:29:53
There was no special font or anything like that about the arrears, the outstanding arrears.
1:29:59
Has that changed?
1:30:00
And what else does DLF do to let people know that they are delinquent in their property taxes.
Annette Hill
1:30:05
Great question.
1:30:06
We have done an extensive work in improving our notice in to our customers.
1:30:11
I I'm gonna apologize because my voice is a little raspy.
1:30:14
I have a very bad hold.
1:30:15
So If you need me to explain something or repeat something, please let me know.
1:30:19
We have changed our notices.
1:30:23
In the last year, we have worked very diligently on improving our notices being very clear as to what is owed.
1:30:29
And what you need to pay for the lien sale moving forward will be highlighted in the exact amount needed to be removed from the lien sale.
1:30:39
We've also increased our funds.
1:30:40
We've highlighted in red information that customers should be looking at when they need to make a payment to know what the amount they do.
1:30:49
We forgot to help them them.
1:30:52
We have the extensive outreach to our lien sale process.
1:30:57
And during the year, we sent out several notices.
1:31:00
We have our statement for accounts notices.
1:31:02
We have our new a new 45 day notice notification from the the re the reauthorization of the lien sale that's been going like quarterly.
1:31:16
We also have information on our website about exemptions, the different types of payment plan, We have a customer help desk service desk.
1:31:27
They can call in for property.
1:31:29
They can call for the lien cell.
1:31:31
We also work very closely for tax tax advocates where they could go and ask questions, and they give them information on how to help them reduce their debt and and and tell them about the different exemptions avail availability.
1:31:50
And, again, like I said, we do a lot of outreach as needed, and we, you know, we will work close with any customer who will need help as to how to pay the how to pay the tax bill, how to prevent them from being in any type of enforcement action.
