Purchasing Property within the LGIA

If you are purchasing property within the Lake Garda Improvement Association (LGIA), know that you are responsible for any unpaid delinquent taxes on the property.  LGIA will make every attempt to clear the balance before you close – however, it is your closing attorney’s responsibility to contact the LGIA Tax Collector for the current balance and to make sure it is paid prior to your closing. Please contact LGIA Tax Collector after you have closed on your property so that we may update our property records.  Per House Bill 992, An Act Incorporating the Lake Garda Improvement Association, you are responsible to pay the LGIA yearly taxes by May 15th regardless of whether or not you receive a bill. You may contact the Tax Collector through postal mail at P.O. Box 222, Unionville, CT 06085, by email at taxcollector@lgiact.com. Click HERE to pay your LGIA Taxes.

Statements & Billing

• Annual tax assessments are due on May 15th of each year.
• Interest is paid in advance at 1.5% per month for any portion of each month late. Per state statute, the interest charges are paid in advance, cannot be waived, and are non-negotiable. However, there is a 30-day grace period during which the first month’s interest is waived.  In other words, bills not paid by June 15^th will accrue 1.5% interest for the period of May 16^th – June 15^th on June 15th when the grace period expires. On June 16^th they will pay in advance another 1.5% interest for the period June 16^th – July 15^th.  They will then accrue 1.5% interest on the 16^th of each month thereafter. This is simple interest on the tax bill only. Interest does not compound on old interest or on fees.
• The first week in July, all members with an unpaid balance greater than $10.00 are sent a billing statement which includes an explanation that payments not made by July 15th will incur a lien charge.
• Lien notice with current statement (including finance charges and lien fee) will be sent out the first week of September.
• Bi-annual statements will be sent out the first week of November to anyone with a balance greater than $10.00.
• Statements are sent monthly to anyone making a payment the prior month with a balance greater than $10.00.
• You may request a statement for your account at any time by contacting the Tax Collector.
• Per our by-laws, LGIA can lien any property if the current yearly tax is not paid in full within 60 days of the due date (i.e. before July 15th).
• LGIA is currently charging $90 for any lien placed on a property.  Please note that the state requires the towns to charges LGIA $60 to place a lien and $60 to remove a lien ($120 total).  This is not a late fee.
• LGIA can lien a property for any dollar amount up to the delinquent tax amount including fees and interest.
• Liens are released once a month, the first Friday of each month.  The full balance (delinquent tax amount, finance charges, lien fee(s), and attorney fee(s)) must be received by the first Thursday of the month for the lien to be released with the monthly batch.  If you require a lien to be released right away, there will be an additional $25 fee.

Attorney & Legal Fees

Unless prior arrangements were made with the Tax Collector, the following will occur:

• Balance in excess of $500 will be handled by LGIA’s attorney for collection.
• Tax Foreclosure suits will occur for any property with a balance in excess of $1,000.
• Each delinquent member will be responsible for all legal fees associated with collection on their account.