Question: I received a “Municipal Lien Balances” report in the mail that has stickers on it that read “Overdue Please Pay” and “Your failure to pay will result in a lien on property.”

Answer: After the pink Demand bill is issued and not paid, the Tax Title Attorney sends this report to the taxpayers as a courtesy. Failure to pay will lead to a Notice of Tax Taking advertisement in The Somerville News, and a public notice posting in City Hall and the Main Library. By operation of law the City must advertise and post notices. The fee for the advertisement is added to the outstanding tax bill. If not paid, a lien is placed on the property and the fees associated with recording the lien are added to the bill. In addition to the pink Demand bill, the Tax Title Attorney’s courtesy mailing, the newspaper advertisement, and the posting in public places, all subsequent real estate tax bills have a dialog box that serves to give notice to property owners of any Prior Year Tax Outstanding amounts or Tax Title amounts outstanding. For more information, see Mass. General Law, Chapter 60, §§ 37, 53, 54, 55 and 60 and the FAQs above on Tax Title and Certificates of Redemption.