Since printing the names of hundreds of residents who owe delinquent taxes and fees, Carbondale Mayor Justin Taylor estimates about 100 people have paid what they owe.
There is no specific tally on the number of individuals or amounts paid because there are three locations that accept the taxes and fee collections, but Mr. Taylor said the printed list, which took up multiple pages in the Carbondale News earlier this month, definitely made an impact.
It might have even inspired some to pay their 2013 taxes early.
"The tax collection for 2013 is actually trending a little ahead of schedule this year ... putting to rest any fear they'll end up in the paper next year," he said. "This is a first for the city, for us to do this on our own, but we felt it was necessary."
The city has borrowed about $3 million over the past decade to pay off debt, having to take out loans to keep up, he said.
"Our sole issue is revenue at this point," Mr. Taylor said. "Paying taxes and paying taxes on time is part of being a responsible property owner."
Printing the names was so effective, it is something the city will keep doing in the future.
Mr. Taylor said the 2013 tax bills were sent out with a note that said 60 days after the first of 2014, the names of delinquent tax and fee payers would be printed once more.
At its most recent meeting, the Carbondale Area School District Board of Education voted to print the names of the district's delinquent taxpayers, although no print dates have been determined.
The school district reports more than $505,000 in delinquent taxes from residents of Carbondale city and about $100,000 in delinquent taxes from residents of Fell Twp. for the 2012-13 school year, which have not been paid as of Jan. 1, business manager David Cerra said.
Contact the writer: ksullivan@timesshamrock.com, @ksullivanTT on Twitter