Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Governmentalism Universalism

Get elected, get the job, get your hooks on that oh-so-lovely tax-payer funded cheque, hold on for dear-life:

A 74-year-old blind woman has been told a lien will be put on her South Attleboro home if she doesn't come up with a penny she owes on an outstanding utility bill.
Details:

The city sent Wilbur a letter dated Nov. 10 stating that if the 1 cent balance is not paid by Dec. 10, the city will assess a lien of up to $48 on Wilbur's next property tax bill.

"They wasted taxpayer money on the letter," Wilbur said, noting the 42-cent charge for a stamp. City Collector Debora Marcoccio said the bill was sent out along with more than 2,000 others as the city tries to recoup outstanding balances before resorting to putting liens on property.

A computer automatically printed the letters for any account with a balance remaining, and they were not reviewed by staff before being sent out, Marcoccio said.

"It would be fiscally irresponsible for me to have staff weed through the bills and pull out any below a certain amount," Marcoccio said. " And what would that amount be?"
So, ridiculousness discovered. Corrected? Please ..... AND HAVE THE AUTHORITY OF A GREAT WORLD LEADER LIKE CITY COLLECTOR DEBORA MARCOCCIO UNDERMINED FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE:

Marcoccio said that before lien notices are sent out, the city sends out bills for the outstanding balance.

"My question is, how come it wasn't paid when the bills went out?" she said.

In the meantime, the city is holding firm on the amount due.

Marcoccio, who called the whole situation "ridiculous," said the city will not waive the balance.

"If there's a bill, it must be paid," she said.
With such stern qualities there is no doubt that one day City Collector Debora Marcoccio will ascend to that true centre of power in southwest Massachusetts, the position of County Collector. Then those pesky plebes will really have to bow down.

Governmentalism, every barrel scraped - all pennies scrounged.

Update: Huzzah to Antonio Viveiros for picking up the tab.

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