MONROE - Three elected officials are among Green County residents who are delinquent in paying their 2008 property taxes.
One of them, Monroe Alderperson Jan Lefevre, is two years past due.
Lefevre, who represents Monroe's Ward 4, owes $3,052 for 2008 and $3,061.28 for 2007. Lefevre actually owes more, as interest and penalties have been added to each amount.
Monroe Mayor Ron Marsh also is delinquent. He was late on his second installment payment of $3,042.08. With interest and penalties, he owed $3,361 as of Aug. 20, but since has paid $500 of that, according to the Green County Treasurer's office.
Green County Board Supervisor Craig Foreback, New Glarus, owes more than $6,000 in 2008 taxes on one piece of property. Foreback represents the County Board's District 29.
In total, more than $1.3 million in 2008 taxes on 800 pieces of property are delinquent in Green County. The deadline for paying remaining property taxes was July 31. After a grace period, penalties and interest began to accrue Aug. 7.
The amount of delinquent taxes has been on the rise in Green County for the past three years - $1.08 million for 2006; $1.11 million for 2007; and $1.33 million for 2008.
However, as a percentage of the yearly taxes levied, delinquencies have stayed the same - about 2 percent.
As of Sept. 1, Green County's total delinquent taxes from 2001 though 2007 total $680,776. Of the taxes in 2006, $160, 385 remains to be collected. For 2007, $449,367 remains.
Foreback said of his tax delinquency, "We are struggling here financially," but refused to elaborate.
He said the financial situation he found himself in "is not of my own making."
"We had an investment that was, like a Bernie Madoff thing ... before there was a Bernie," Foreback said.
Foreback said he has a "sensitivity to how taxpayers' money is spent," citing as an example his vote having a Green County referendum asking voters to approve additional taxes to fund the Pleasant View Nursing Home. He was one of three supervisors to vote against having a referendum.
Lefevre said financial hardship is the reason she's behind on her taxes on one property. Lefevre is listed as owner on two other properties, which are up-to-date on taxes.
"Well, times have been tough, Lefevre said. She said the economic recession has taken a toll on her family-owned business, and a lack of health insurance and medical problems she and other family members she's responsible for "are overwhelming."
Lefevre noted the reprieve from assessments for street reconstruction expenses for residents on 16th Avenue last year as an example of how she's tried "to put myself in that person's shoes."
"Any decision I have ever made has never, ever been for personal gain," Lefevre said.
Marsh said he's late in paying his taxes because he's waiting for an investment to become worth a certain amount so he doesn't lose money by taking it out early to pay the property tax bill.
"If you go into those prematurely, you are penalized," Marsh said of the investment.
Marsh said he doesn't understand why his tax status needs to be made public in the media. It's a personal issue, he said, not a public one.
"I don't think this is a good thing for the newspaper to put out there," Marsh said.
Marsh said he expects to pay the money he owes soon.
"I meet all my obligations," he said. "Those obligations will be met very shortly."
- Times reporter Brian Gray and news editor Andrew Hellpap contributed to this story.
One of them, Monroe Alderperson Jan Lefevre, is two years past due.
Lefevre, who represents Monroe's Ward 4, owes $3,052 for 2008 and $3,061.28 for 2007. Lefevre actually owes more, as interest and penalties have been added to each amount.
Monroe Mayor Ron Marsh also is delinquent. He was late on his second installment payment of $3,042.08. With interest and penalties, he owed $3,361 as of Aug. 20, but since has paid $500 of that, according to the Green County Treasurer's office.
Green County Board Supervisor Craig Foreback, New Glarus, owes more than $6,000 in 2008 taxes on one piece of property. Foreback represents the County Board's District 29.
In total, more than $1.3 million in 2008 taxes on 800 pieces of property are delinquent in Green County. The deadline for paying remaining property taxes was July 31. After a grace period, penalties and interest began to accrue Aug. 7.
The amount of delinquent taxes has been on the rise in Green County for the past three years - $1.08 million for 2006; $1.11 million for 2007; and $1.33 million for 2008.
However, as a percentage of the yearly taxes levied, delinquencies have stayed the same - about 2 percent.
As of Sept. 1, Green County's total delinquent taxes from 2001 though 2007 total $680,776. Of the taxes in 2006, $160, 385 remains to be collected. For 2007, $449,367 remains.
Foreback said of his tax delinquency, "We are struggling here financially," but refused to elaborate.
He said the financial situation he found himself in "is not of my own making."
"We had an investment that was, like a Bernie Madoff thing ... before there was a Bernie," Foreback said.
Foreback said he has a "sensitivity to how taxpayers' money is spent," citing as an example his vote having a Green County referendum asking voters to approve additional taxes to fund the Pleasant View Nursing Home. He was one of three supervisors to vote against having a referendum.
Lefevre said financial hardship is the reason she's behind on her taxes on one property. Lefevre is listed as owner on two other properties, which are up-to-date on taxes.
"Well, times have been tough, Lefevre said. She said the economic recession has taken a toll on her family-owned business, and a lack of health insurance and medical problems she and other family members she's responsible for "are overwhelming."
Lefevre noted the reprieve from assessments for street reconstruction expenses for residents on 16th Avenue last year as an example of how she's tried "to put myself in that person's shoes."
"Any decision I have ever made has never, ever been for personal gain," Lefevre said.
Marsh said he's late in paying his taxes because he's waiting for an investment to become worth a certain amount so he doesn't lose money by taking it out early to pay the property tax bill.
"If you go into those prematurely, you are penalized," Marsh said of the investment.
Marsh said he doesn't understand why his tax status needs to be made public in the media. It's a personal issue, he said, not a public one.
"I don't think this is a good thing for the newspaper to put out there," Marsh said.
Marsh said he expects to pay the money he owes soon.
"I meet all my obligations," he said. "Those obligations will be met very shortly."
- Times reporter Brian Gray and news editor Andrew Hellpap contributed to this story.