Mayor Pays Tax Lien
May 23, 2008
Mayor Frank Guinta yesterday paid more than $3,000 in past due 2007 real estate taxes and nearly $300 in an outstanding 2006 wastewater bill on property he owns on Youville Street.The mayor said he was unaware of a real estate tax lien and a wastewater lien filed against his three-family residential investment property by the city tax collector’s office until informed by the New Hampshire Union Leader.
An hour later, he told the newspaper, “Thank you for bringing this to my attention. It’s been paid.”
Liens on file against Guinta at the Hillsborough County Registry of Deeds and on the registry’s Web site were verified by city tax collector Joan Porter.
They came to the Union Leader’s attention as the mayor was in Concord speaking on behalf of the conservative New Hampshire Advantage Coalition for a state and local spending cap pledge for officeholders and candidates. Guinta said at the news conference that state officials are “fleecing” taxpayers.
A wastewater lien listed in the Hillsborough County Registry of Deeds for $129.94 for Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta’s primary home at 221 Crestview Road was filed Aug. 31, 2007 and was paid in October 2007.
Guinta saw no irony there, saying, “I don’t see a connection between the two. I believe in spending caps. This is a completely different issue.”
The city tax collector’s office on April 25 filed a real estate tax lien against Guinta’s property at 172 Youville St., according to a Report of Collector’s Execution of Real Estate Tax Lien, executed at the tax collector’s office.
The lien was for $2,798.54 in taxes, $122.83 in interest and $36.50 in costs, for a total owed of $2,957.87.
Tax collector Porter said that when Guinta paid them yesterday, the total due was $3,021.60. The bill was for the balance of Guinta’s 2007 tax bill, which was payable on Dec. 9.
According to the tax collector’s office, the city’s tax year runs from April 1 to March 31 and liens are placed in April. Property owners are notified of impending liens in certified letters a month in advance, in March.
Guinta did not recall receiving the letter, although he did not dispute that he received one.
“I wasn’t aware that the bills were owed, and I verified it and paid them, and appreciate it being brought to my attention,” he said.
Wastewater bills are due quarterly, and Guinta had two wastewater liens filed against him on Aug. 31, 2007, for 2006 bills, according to a similar tax collector’s office report on file with the county deed registry.
A wastewater lien for 172 Youville St. was for $236.97, including interest and costs on a 2006 bill. When Guinta paid it yesterday, the bill was $295.01.
Another wastewater lien listed in the registry for a total of $129.94, for Guinta’s primary home at 221 Crestview Road, was also filed on Aug. 31, 2007. But that bill was paid in October 2007, according to Porter and a redemption notice filed in the registry.