(Amended by Ordinance Nos. 178241 and 179361, effective July 1, 2005.)
A. Under the Hardship Payment Program, a property owner may
pay only interest and billing charges for a period not to exceed 12 months.
B. Qualifications. A property owner may qualify for the
Hardship Payment Program if they meet all of the following criteria:
1. The property must be a single-family residence,
occupied by the owner;
2. The property must be subject to a delinquent lien;
and
3. The property owner is temporarily unable to make
monthly payments due to catastrophic financial circumstances. These
circumstances may include illness, loss of income or a temporary
disability.
C. Administration.
1. The Auditor shall administer the Hardship Payment
Program.
2. Applicants must complete a written request form and
provide sufficient written documentation to support a determination that the
applicant is experiencing catastrophic financial circumstances. Documentation
may consist of records such as a lay-off-notice, proof of unemployment or
other evidence of loss of income.
3. The Auditor shall review and approve or deny
applications for individual payment plans under the Hardship Payment
Program.
4. If the Auditor determines that a property owner is
qualified to participate in the Program, the Auditor shall allow the qualified
property owner to make a minimum monthly payment equal to the monthly interest
accruing to the delinquent lien, plus the monthly billing charge. Interest
shall be calculated at the prime interest rate set by the City's bank on
December 31st of the previous year plus 200 base points (2%) per annum. The
recalculated interest rate shall be applied to each individual payment plan on
the first billing date following December 31st of each year.
5. The Auditor shall periodically review each individual
payment plan to verify the qualifications of the participant.
6. At the conclusion of an individual payment plan, the
Auditor shall bill any property owner who has complied with the individual
payment plan, but has not paid the account in full, according to the Auditor’s
standard billing procedures.
7. A payment for the specified amount in the Hardship
Payment Plan Agreement (HPPA) must be received in the Auditor's Office with
the signed HPPA.
D. If the property owner fails to make a monthly payment
before the completion of the plan, the Auditor may place the property on the
foreclosure list, unless the Auditor finds there is an additional or continuing
emergency. In that event the Auditor may authorize a new plan or reinstate the
existing plan.
