In May 2007, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) notified delinquent customers through public service announcements and notification cards inserted with the customer’s bill of its intention to refer delinquent water/sewer bills to the Treasury Department for placement on the customer’s property tax bill, if the delinquent amount was not paid or satisfactory arrangements made.
In June 2007, DWSD notified customers in writing that they had 14 days to pay their delinquent water/sewer bill or the delinquent amount would be referred to the Treasury Department for collection and possible placement on their property tax bill.
On August 17, 2007, DWSD removed the delinquent water/sewer amount from the customer’s account and referred it to the Treasury Department for collection.
In October 2007, the Treasury Department mailed collection letters to customers with delinquent accounts, giving them the opportunity to pay the balance in full by October 22, 2007 to prevent referral to the property tax bill. Treasury extended the deadline to November 9, 2007. Any account still outstanding after this deadline date was placed on the customer’s property tax bill.
What gives the City of Detroit the authority to do this?
State law, through the Municipal Water Lien Act (MCL 123.161), allows for placement of any delinquent water/sewer fees on the property’s tax bill as a lien for collection purposes.
How can I owe a delinquent water bill at the Treasury Department when my DWSD statement shows a credit?
As stated above, DWSD removed the delinquent water/sewer amount from the customer’s bill when it was referred to property taxes. That transaction was identified as a “CR” or credit on the bill. It simply means that it was taken off the water bill to be added to the property tax bill if not timely paid. Additionally, any payment of the delinquent amount mailed directly to DWSD and not to the Treasury Department was applied to any balance owed on the bill at that time. If the payment amount was more than the balance owed, a credit was issued and posted to the current water/sewer bill for the amount left over. This credit will be applied to the customer’s current water/sewer bills until it is exhausted.
How did you arrive at this delinquent amount?
DWSD identified and computed customers’ delinquent water/sewerage amounts from June 2006 through May 2007 (the current tax year). If a customer was delinquent prior to June 2006 or became delinquent after May 2007, those delinquent amounts remained on the customer’s water/sewer bill and were not referred to the Treasury Department for collection and/or placement on the property tax bill.
| BILLING PERIOD IN QUESTION | STATUS OF DELINQUENCY | CONTACT AND PAYMENT INFORMATION |
Delinquent water/sewer bills accumulated prior to June 2006 | Delinquent amount remains on the customer’s DWSD account. | Contact DWSD for information regarding delinquencies accumulated during this time period. |
Delinquent water/sewer bills accrued from June 2006 through May 2007 | Delinquent amount has been removed from the customer’s DWSD account and transferred to the Treasury Department to be placed on the customer’s property tax bill for collection. | Effective November 9, 2007, the delinquent amount is now included on the customer’s property tax bill and must be paid to the City of Detroit Treasury Department according to the instructions printed on the Property Tax Bill. |
Delinquent water/sewer bills accrued after May 2007 | Delinquent amount remains on the customer’s DWSD account. | Contact DWSD for information regarding delinquencies accumulated during this time period. |
My water is currently shut off. Can I pay the delinquent water amount to Treasury now to get my water turned back on?
As of November 9, 2007, DWSD is not requiring that the delinquent water/sewer amount referred to the Treasury Department be paid before water services can be restored. Contacting DWSD at (313) 964-9090 may restore services. Payment of any outstanding delinquency remaining on the account will be required or other satisfactory arrangements made.
What happened to the payment I sent in after the November 9 deadline date?
Any payment received by the Treasury Department after the cut-off date of November 9, 2007 will be applied to the December (“Winter”) Property Tax Bill. It will not be applied directly to the delinquent water/sewer amount but will be applied to the total amount owing.
What will happen if I don’t pay this bill?
The delinquent water/sewer amount is now considered to be a part of the total property tax bill. If the property tax bill is not paid by January 15, 2007, penalties and interest will be added to the total amount due. If the total amount due is not paid by February 28, 2008, it will be transferred to the Wayne County Treasurer for collection. The Wayne County Treasurer will begin foreclosure proceedings against the property in order to collect unpaid taxes and liens.