Ex-Saratoga employee accused of theft was behind on taxes

PHOTOGRAPHER: Tatiana Zarnowski

A former city employee charged with stealing from the Department of Public Works didn’t pay her city and county real estate taxes last year, according to a legal notice released by the city finance department.

Joy Karam owes $1,823.22 in 2007 taxes for her property at 1 Sandspring Drive, according to the notice. A lien will be placed on the properties listed in the tax sale notice, said Christine Gillmett-Brown, director of finance.

City records indicate that Karam paid last year’s school taxes about a week and a half ago, but still has not paid the county and city taxes, which total $1,572.40, plus $250 in interest and fees. Her house is not in foreclosure, however, according to county records.

Karam was charged last week with stealing at least $20,000 between January 2007 and August 2008. Police said the senior clerk took money from the sale of plastic trash bags at the city transfer station and falsified records to cover her tracks.