YORKTON - Yorkton Council agreed unanimously to write off $47,826 owed to the city from 2023.
Under the City Administration Bylaw, the city manager has discretion to write-off any uncollectible accounts not exceeding $7,500. Any account in excess of this limit requires Council approval, explained Amber Matechuk, controller with the city.
For the 2023 year, the write-offs, include various unpaid utility bills, some recreation rentals, and an event license.
There were three accounts in excess of $7,500 which were part of council’s approval Monday.
The three accounts each for a mobile home rent arrears, demolition and disposal.
Each account fell into rent arrears and Administration sent these accounts to the Office of Residential Tenancies where we were granted writ of possession for the mobile homes. In these cases the properties are usually abandoned by the tenant, and then over time the City receives permission to dispose of them. Due to the age and deteriorated condition, the buildings were all demolished; which was done collectively at the same time in July of 2023, explained Matechuk.
These fees were charged back to each mobile home account and eventually sent to a collections agency.
The annual budget does allow $40,000 for account write-offs, which historically is not used in full. The reasonably low write-off volume is indicative of active follow up of accounts by all departments. Accounts are only written off after all means of collection have been exhausted, including use of a collection agency, detailed Matechuk.
