Mandela Barnes says 'check is in the mail' to pay delinquent property taxes

MADISON - Gov. Tony Evers said Monday the state's lieutenant governor should pay overdue property taxes owed to the City of Milwaukee.

Hours later, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes said he did just that.

"You miss a bill, you just pay it. Simple. Check is in the mail," Barnes tweeted following Evers' comments Monday and a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report last week on the unpaid taxes. "Can't believe it's gotten this ridiculous."

Barnes took issue with recent news coverage in a series of tweets, suggesting stories about an increase in security costs, unpaid parking tickets and delinquent property taxes were unfair.

"There have been some wild angles taken in stories lately," he said. "Security presence would obviously increase if more work is being done, a parking ticket is a right of passage in Milwaukee, and yes, a bill sat on the refrigerator a little too long."

Barnes said stories about the Milwaukee area having low rates of homeowners among its black residents would be more worthwhile. 

Barnes owes the city at least $2,225 in property taxes, interest and penalties on his Milwaukee condo, according to city officials.

"I haven't seen him so I haven't (talked to him) but if he owes money, he owes money and he should pay it," Evers told reporters at the Wisconsin State Capitol.

Barnes told the Journal Sentinel he is paying the taxes in installments, and provided the newspaper a copy of his 2018 tax bill, which lists how much to pay in each installment. 

But Jesicca Zwaga of the city treasurer's office said Barnes' taxes are considered delinquent because he failed to make the first payment in the installment agreement by Jan. 31. 

You can find out who your legislators are and how to contact them here.

Contact Molly Beck at molly.beck@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MollyBeck.