Schools delinquent on water and sewer bills; district says it will rectify | Paterson Times Paterson Times

Schools delinquent on water and sewer bills; district says it will rectify

By Jayed Rahman
Published: June 13, 2014

don-bosco-tech-middle-school

Don Bosco Technology and Yes Academy owe more than $30,000 in unpaid sewer and water charges going back to 2012, according to city records.

The school district said the bills were not being sent to its headquarters at 90 Delaware Avenue which is why the bills went unpaid. “It seems that for these two locations (Don Bosco and YES Academy) the bills were being sent to incorrect addresses – not to 90 Delaware Avenue,” said Terry Corallo, spokesperson for the district.

Kathleen Gibson, tax collector for the city, said sometimes bills are sent to individual schools rather than the district. “Some of them are sent to the district and some of them are sent to the schools,” said Gibson.

Both schools owe $30,488 in unpaid sewer and water charges. Yes Academy of Smith Street owes $20,914 in unpaid sewer and water, according to city records. The academy missed two payments in 2012, one payment in 2013, and one payment in 2014.

Because the school has been late in paying its bills the city slapped on an additional $5,720 in interest, according to city records. Total owed by the academy including interest is $26,634.

Similarly, Don Bosco Technology of Union Avenue owes $3,426 in unpaid water and sewer charges going back to 2013. The school missed two payments in 2013 and one payment in 2014. With added interest of $428, the school owes a total of $3,854, according to city records.

If the district had paid its bills on time it could have saved more than $6,000 by avoiding added interest fees the city tacks on to unpaid sewer and water charges.

Last week, the city approved lien sales against both school buildings for unpaid sewer and water. Gibson said this is not the first time the schools have missed payments it has happened before. However, she said, “They always pay, eventually.”

The tax collector said bills have been sent to the district for the unpaid charges. “We are rectifying this situation and the bills will be paid,” said Corallo.


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