Part of the city’s 2020 fourth-quarter financial report showed that a significant amount of property taxes has not been paid yet. 

The report showed that $4.7 million in taxes haven't been paid. That includes $3.26 million for 2020 only and $1.5 million that are in arrears or owed over a number of years. 

In 2019, there was $3 million that had not been paid at the end of the year with $1.94 million owing for just that year-end and $1.05 million in arrears. 

City manager Jim Puffalt said the amount in arrears is a concern, but the city tried to help out with its Tax Installment Payment Plan Service (TIPPS). 

“We were glad that we have opportunities for people to work through and equalize their payments, and obviously, I think COVID-19 certainly affected a lot of things,” Puffalt said.  

“It's a pretty big jump there from one year to the next so, I think we have to see how we come out of COVID and what happens with property taxes. 

In May, city council made changes to the installment plan to allow for more people to qualify. 

Residents had to apply before Dec. 31, 2020, in order to get into the TIPPS program while in arrears. That has now ended and, for 2021, residents must be arrears-free and prepaid for any months currently missed.

Puffalt explained how the TIPPS program works. 

“There's a form you have to fill out that talks about an agreement to pay your property taxes over time. You're able to pick the first of the month or the 15th of the month, and then the city will take the payments based upon the projected mill rate for 2021.”