Ellis demanding end to ‘garbage fee liens’ in Macon

This is not Russia. This is not some gestapo. This is the United States of America

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Tax commissioner candidate C. Jack Ellis says he wants the county’s tax commissioner’s office to immediately stop putting liens on homes behind on garbage fees.

Ellis held an impromptu news conference Thursday in front of the Macon-Bibb Government Center.

Ellis says after reviewing an announcement in the local paper, he saw there were far too many homes threatened to be sold after residents didn’t pay their garbage fees — some fees are behind more than $1,000.

The tax commissioner candidate says the collection of garbage fees and residents’ property shouldn’t be connected.

“I think it’s wrong and I think it’s unfair to hard working people, especially low-income and moderate-income people who are struggling these days just to buy food, let alone paying their garbage bill,” Ellis said.

The former Macon mayor guessed the ‘garbage fee liens’ could be affecting thousands of residents.

“No one should go and take your property. This is not Russia. This is not some gestapo. This is the United States of America and I don’t think anyone has a right to take people’s property and sell it willy nilly on the courthouse steps for a $800 garbage fee bill,” Ellis said.

Wade McCord, the interim tax commissioner who’s also running against Ellis for the tax commission seat, says Ellis’ proposal is ‘illegal.’

“I choose to give him the benefit of the doubt on this issue,” McCord said in a statement sent to 41NBC. “Macon-Bibb code 22-27 requires that as Macon-Bibb Tax Commissioner, my staff and I treat garbage fees just like Ad-Valorem taxes. Any change in that should be taken up with the folks who have the authority to change our laws – which would be the County Commissioners.”

McCord argues while Ellis’ claims of the county selling the homes for small amounts of money, the total amount currently owed to the county in garbage maintenance fees is $7 million.

“If we don’t collect that money we have three options: Take it out of the general fund, raise property taxes, or cut services,” McCord said.

The interim commissioner also says that no house ever goes up for potential sale unless the past due amount is at least three years old.

McCord said 41 of the 4,200 homes the county has levied fit Ellis’ description and have a long history of unpaid fees.

“What he doesn’t tell you about is the thousands of times we avoided this situation due to the stubborn kindness and compassion of our staff,” McCord said.