The City of Milwaukee now has an important new tool to use to collect delinquent property taxes and assessments, unpaid judgments and outstanding health and building code violations. The Common Council has approved an ordinance, authored by Ald. Bauman requiring applicants for various zoning actions and permits to submit a signed affidavit indicating whether they owe the city money for a wide range of violations, fines and judgments.

"It makes no sense for the City of Milwaukee to reward applicants with various zoning changes, special use permits and other privileges when they're otherwise thumbing their noses at the city by dodging orders, not paying taxes and generally not satisfying their obligations to the city," said Ald. Bauman. "This ordinance puts the onus on the applicant to disclose whether or not they have 'clean hands' when it comes to taxes, fines and code violations."