GOSHEN – Officials are working to correct a software error that caused about half of the city’s taxpayers to receive inaccurate data on their vehicle tax bills this year.
Members of the Select Board, who discussed the issue with a handful of frustrated taxpayers at a Nov. 12 meeting, said the transition to a new tax and software system resulted in a significant number of data errors, impacting approximately 300 taxpayers. The problem remains an ongoing “fire” that they are trying to put out.
Timothy Lamere of the Select Board said the issue is “high on our list to try to resolve it as quickly as possible” as the city continues to correct errors in the data.
After the errors were discovered, the city notified residents via a citywide phone message and posted a notice on the city website. Some residents complained at last week’s meeting that they had not received such a notice, either because they had not found it on the website or had not signed up for Goshen’s emergency messaging system.
Among those not initially informed was Goshen resident and business owner Robert Christianson.
“What I didn’t understand was that there were no notices or anything in the mail,” Christianson said, noting that he felt like a “criminal with a warrant” after people were sent to his house to tell him he had not paid his excise duty. , despite the fact that he had.
He expressed concern, adding that he, like others affected by the error, would not be able to renew their license or registration if their record shows failure to pay the tax.
In response, Select Board Chairman Peri Hall said the tax collector has been notified and residents will not be denied a permit due to a city software error if a payment has already been made to the city. And those who overpaid due to the errors will be refunded, according to Hall.
The board advises residents who have already paid and still received a warrant for excise taxes owed to contact city hall at 413-268-8236.
Samuel Gelinas can be reached at [email protected].
