Ament Industrial Truck and Delinquent Personal Property Taxes
Do you pay your property taxes on time? Shouldn’t our elected city officials do that, too?
A Legal Notice of Unpaid Delinquent “Personal Property Tax” City of New Berlin, which was published in the March 31, 2011 issue of New Berlin NOW was for delinquent personal property taxes assessed for 2007 thru 2010. Ament Industrial Truck, the company Dave Ament owns, was on that list (under the heading 2010). The amount shown on the list does not include interest due.
Dave Ament, who has been an alderman since 2001, is currently running for mayor. In New Berlin, the mayor also serves as city administrator.
I contacted the City Assessor office and Finance Department today and asked several questions. I'd like to share what I learned with you.
I was informed that personal property taxes and real estate taxes on businesses are collected by the City of New Berlin. Personal property taxes---the taxes on the assets to run a New Berlin business, such as on supplies, equipment, computers, signage, machinery (excluding licensed vehicles) etc. are handled by the City of New Berlin. ( On the other hand, real estate taxes—the taxes on the business’ land and buildings which are delinquent are handled by the county.)
It was explained that personal property tax bills are sent out in December. The tax bill is due by January 31. If unpaid, starting Feb. 1 it will be considered delinquent and interest begins accruing on the taxes at the rate of 1.5% per month or 18% per year. A delinquent notice is sent out. If the tax bill continues to be unpaid, it is marked on the next year’s bill. Then if still not paid!-- the delinquent taxes will be listed on the public notice that is published in the newspaper the following March or later. The City’s collection agent may be notified
I was told Ament Industrial Truck ultimately paid the delinquent property taxes mentioned above on March 29, 2011. Oh, that would be after publication of the notice on the City Web site and after the notice was sent to the newspaper for publication.
According to the City’s Finance Director, who told me he’s checked and double-checked, Ament Industrial Truck currently has two years outstanding of unpaid personal property taxes.
He told me that according to his records, Ament Industrial Truck’s personal property taxes due Jan. 31, 2012 and Jan. 31, 2013 were not paid and both are considered delinquent .
He said Ament Industrial Truck’s 2011 personal property tax bill was $62.66 (with interest it’s gone up to $75.82) and the 2012 bill was $49.19 (with interest it’s now at $50.66).
I was also informed that a copy of the legal notice of delinquent personal property tax that is currently displayed on the City of New Berlin Web site --for taxes assessed for 2009 thru 2011 --(it includes Ament Industrial Truck’s 2011 $62.66 bill) was sent Wednesday to the local newspaper for publication. You can view the legal notice online by going to www.newberlin.org, clicking on “Departments”, clicking on “Finance” and then on “delinquent personal property tax”.
I also learned from the Finance Director that the delinquent personal property tax reports have been published annually for years and the practice began before he was hired. He thinks it may have been a Council directive.
*** I've tweaked the fifth paragraph a little for clarity. I also put paragraphs 8, 9, 10, 11 in boldface type to make them stand out.
**** 3/8/2013 I heard that Dave Ament's daughter came to City Hall this afternoon and paid Ament Industrial Truck's two years of delinquent taxes- -you know the ones that were due Jan. 31, 2012 and Jan. 31, 2013. Subsequently, Ament Industrial Truck was taken off the listing of delinquent personal property taxes notice that's on the City of New Berlin Web site.
