§ 116-68 — Cost of Removal

116-68. Cost of Removal.

1. REPORT TO CITY COMPTROLLER. Except for the costs imposed for tree removal under ss.116-53 and 116-66, the commissioner of public works shall keep an account of all costs expended upon the work in front of each lot, part of lot or parcel of land, and make an annual report to the city comptroller, stating and certifying the description of the lots, parts of lots or parcels of land in front or rear of or upon which the work shall have been done, and the city comptroller shall, at the time of making his or her annual report to the common council of the lots or parcels of land subject to special tax or assessment, include therein the lots or parcels so reported to him or her by the commissioner of public works, with the aggregate amount chargeable thereto, according to the report, and the amounts shall be levied on the lots or parcels of land respectively to which they are so chargeable, in like manner as other special taxes are levied in the city. 2. REPORT TO CITY TREASURER. The commissioner of public works shall keep an account of all costs of tree removal, provided for under ss.116-53 and 116-66, that are expended upon the work in front of each lot, part of lot or parcel of land, and make an annual report to the city treasurer of the trees removed under ss.116-53 and 116-66 that includes the amounts that shall be levied as special assessments on the lots or parcels of land respectively to which they are so chargeable. 3. PAYMENT TERMS. The special assessment amounts for the cost of removal of trees, under ss.116-53 and 116-66, levied on the lots or parcels of land, respectively, to which they are so charged shall be paid under the following terms and conditions: a. Except as provided for in par. b, the total amount for the cost imposed for the removal of trees shall be paid to the city treasurer within the time allowed for the payment of general property taxes. b. Property owners affected by the special assessment for the removal of trees, who waive in writing a public hearing notice as provided for by s. 66.0703(7)(b), Wis. Stats., and have a total amount of the unpaid principal of the special assessment remaining over a sum of $125, shall have the special assessment spread equally over the first and next succeeding 9 property tax rolls. b-1. If the total amount of the bill remaining unpaid is less than $125, the amount shall be placed on the first available tax roll. b-2. In addition to the principal remaining, interest shall be added commencing the January 31 after the issuance of the property tax bill. The interest rate charged shall be set annually as of the last business day in June as an approximation of the prime rate plus 1%. For the purpose of this subdivision, the prime rate shall be defined as the Wall Street Journal prime rate which is published in the Wall Street Journal. The monthly rate of interest shall be computed by dividing the average prime rate plus 1% by 12 rounded to the nearest 100th percent. The city comptroller shall review the interest rate annually and shall notify the department of public works of the interest rate. The interest rate shall become effective as of the public hearing date in September at which annual assessment rate changes are submitted to the appropriate committee of the common council as provided in s. 115-43. The interest rate in effect at the time the charge is levied shall be fixed for the 10-year duration of the installment payments. b-3. After being placed on the tax roll in annual installments or otherwise, the amounts of special assessments shall be paid within the time allowed for the payment of general property taxes. If the taxpayer fails to pay a special assessment within the time allowed for payment, it shall become delinquent and shall be treated in the same manner and subject to the same laws as a delinquent general property tax.