BARRHEAD - A County of Barrhead resident will receive a break in the penalty she owes the municipality for late payment of her 2024 property taxes.
At their Nov. 19 meeting, councillors met Tracy Cook halfway, waiving half of the $578.78.
According to the municipality's Tax Penalty Bylaw, any taxes remaining unpaid after the due date are subject to an eight per cent penalty.
Cook owns three properties in the county. Two of the taxes have been marked as paid, and one is still outstanding.
However, she stated in an e-mail to the county that she clearly recollects paying all three tax rolls via three separate cheques, which she mailed in one envelope.
"All three were written the same day, and I put them in the same envelope," Cook said. "The first two have cleared, but the third has not cleared yet."
She added that this is the first time she has had any issues with her property taxes, noting that she always pays them early.
Cook also said she sent a replacement cheque that included the penalty amount once she received the tax overdue notice from the municipality.
"I feel [the penalty] is unfair, given that I know I mailed all three cheques," she said. It must have been lost at your folks' end. I am asking that the penalty be reimbursed."
County manager Debbie Oyarzun confirmed Cook's tax payment history and that they received the second cheque.
"We've looked at the situation," she said. "While it is possible that a third cheque was in the envelope and was missed by staff, it is highly unlikely."
Finance director Tamara Molzahn, as part of the county's review, went back over six years of records, and they did not find any incident where staff members missed correspondence or payment through the mail regarding property taxes.
Coun. Lane said that given Cook's record, he wouldn't take issue with giving her the benefit of the doubt and giving her a pass this one time.
Councillors Walter Preugschas and Ron Kleinfeldt suggested that the municipality split the difference, given the chance the error could have been the county's.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
