Council approves assignment of delinquent tax liens to Ram Financial Group; manager says bidder agreed not to charge extra fees

The West Haven City Council approved the assignment of certain delinquent tax and sewer liens to Ram Financial Group after the city’s tax manager described the competitive bidding process and shifting totals.

Rachel, the city’s tax manager and tax collector, told the finance committee that the initial list of delinquencies used for bids was approximately $2.2 million but that payments made between the posting and the sale reduced the outstanding total; she said the city’s working list was about $1.8 million when the letter was created and roughly $1.6 million on the day of the sale. Rachel explained that Ram Financial Group submitted the high bid and had written into their bids a commitment not to charge additional fees to taxpayers.

During the discussion council members asked for clarity about the figures and the premium calculation; Rachel explained that bidders bid a premium percentage on the base amount (the percentage does not change to reflect payments that occurred after bids were prepared). The resolution read into the record lists a purchase price of $2,224,464.50 and a percentage described as 107.61%; the resolution also cites statutory authority under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 12‑195h for assignment of liens and authorizes the mayor to execute related documents.

What the council approved: a resolution authorizing assignment of listed delinquent sewer charges and taxes to Ram Financial Group and directing the mayor to execute necessary documents. City staff noted that the actual dollar total available for assignment changed between the initial list and the closing as taxpayers made payments; the tax manager said weekly lists are updated until the wire is received from the purchaser.

Note on figures: the meeting transcript contains several figures read into the record and a numeric transcription inconsistency in the printed resolution; the tax manager’s explanation that the base list fell as residents paid is the clearest source of the change.