With so many houses that are for sale AND vacant, the EVIDENCE of which I supplied with photos from for sale ads, not to mention the thousands of vacant houses that are not for sale, the abandoned ones, the taxpayers have a birthright entitlement to an accurate accounting/financial report listing the houses and showing whether fees have been paid


From city code:


(9) Vacant building fees.

(a) The owner of a vacant building shall pay an annual fee as set forth in Subsection A(9)(b) for the period the building remains a vacant building. The fee shall be reasonably related to the administrative costs for registering and processing the vacant building owner registration form and for the costs of the City in monitoring and inspecting the vacant building site, as well as any additional maintenance the owner does not undertake.

(b) The first-year annual fee shall be $1,000 and shall be paid no later than 30 days after the building becomes vacant. If the fee is not paid within 30 days of being due, the owner shall be subject to prosecution as prescribed in § 167-15. If a plan is extended beyond 365 days, subsequent annual fees shall be paid as follows:


[1]  For the second year that the building remains vacant: $1,500;

[2]  For the third year that the building remains vacant: $2,000;

[3]  For the fourth year that the building remains vacant: $3,500; and

[4] For the fifth, and each succeeding year, that the building remains vacant: $4,000.



Dems better come out with it.

Former DEM councilwoman Brucker's house has been vacant almost a whole year now.   Has she paid the fee?   The city owes an answer to the taxpayers of the city.l

Former DEM councilman Erickson's house has been vacant 3 years tomorrow (well, they closed on their current residence 3 yrs ago tomorrow).   Has this DEM paid the fees every year?

Former school super Eric Ely, that the school board RAPED THE TAXPAYERS in the city STEALING to give him a lavish payout, his left his house four years ago, are the city DEMS charging him the fee every year?   Has he paid the fee?

The old DSS building is vacant, owned by the DEM's beloved Galesi.   Has the city made Galesi pay the fee?   ROFL.  The city DEMS are STEALING from the homeowners, will make the homeowners pay the demo cost of that building and under the DEM leadership, if the homeowners don't pay out of their pockets for the demo of Galesi's building, then the homeowners will lose their home.  My guess is that the DEMS have exempted their billionaire campaign donor from paying a vacant building fee.

Wow excellent info, should be brought up at priveledge of the floor at tonights council meeting.

It is one of the worst laws put on any municipalities books ever.  It punishes people who have a vacant house regardless as to the upkeep or condition of the property.  In all reality the city should welcome vacant buildings as long as they are kept in tip top standards.  These vacant homes do not tax the schools, roads and utilities at all.  All they have to do is enforce the other laws on the books......but that makes too much sense.