Borough Manager: $93,000 Owed in Garbage, Recycling Fees

In every municipality there are stragglers who pay their debts late, or in some cases, not at all. But this year in Hellertown, there is an unusually large number of households that have failed to pay their annual garbage and recycling fees, Borough Manager Cathy Kichline announced to Borough Council Aug. 1.

"There's a significant amount of money that's outstanding," Kichline said, adding that the current state of the economy could have something to do with the large amount collectively owed by residents.

Specifically, approximately $93,000 is still outstanding in 2011 garbage and recycling fees due the borough, she continued.

A third letter advising delinquent households of their financial obligation was about to be mailed, and the next step in the process will involve the use of a collection agency to place municipal liens against those households, Kichline said.

Kichline also said that $16,000 in garbage and recycling fees from prior years is still owed to the borough.

Municipal liens have already been filed against the individuals responsible for those debts, she explained.

A smaller amount of money is also owed to the borough by individuals who have not yet paid their 2011 borough fire tax, Kichline told council.