Berrien County Treasurer Shelly Weich will have a busy travel schedule between January and March as she visits communities all over the area to talk with residents about back taxes and payment plans.
Weich tells us with taxes due on March 31, she’ll be in eleven municipalities throughout the three months to work with property owners in danger of foreclosure due to delinquent taxes from 2023 and earlier. She says about 600 property owners are currently on a payment plan. The details of each plan vary.
“I take a look at their situation and try and get a dollar amount that works for them, but also I still have the responsibility of collecting those taxes and getting them paid off, getting them paid back to the county,” Weich said.
Weich says the number of property owners in arrears has been up, so she’ll meet with people in their own communities to talk about getting on track. Many feel more comfortable that way as they worry about foreclosure.
“They’ve come in, I’ve had a number of people crying that they don’t want to lose their home, but I tell them, as long as you are working with me, I’m going to make sure on my end that we keep you in your house and keep that roof over your head.”
Throughout January, February, and March, Weich will be in Niles Township, St. Joseph, Benton Township, Chikaming Township, Niles, Hagar Township, Bridgman, Royalton Township, Benton Harbor, Watervliet Township, and Buchanan to meet with residents, once each of those months.
You can see the full schedule below.
