Thousands of dollars in unpaid water and sewer bills in Middletown homes are impacting the town's budget.

When residents move out of their homes, that last water bill is not being paid by the former tenant or the property owner.

Leaders are turning to the town's attorney to decide who is responsible for paying.

"It's not so much that we can let one or two bills slide, we want to get that money in for the town," said Mayor Charles Harbaugh. "It's taxpayers dollars. That money goes to upgrades for our water treatment plant, it goes to police protection and general government funds."

Mayor Harbaugh says many towns can easily have this issue, but with smaller towns like Middletown, it has a bigger impact.

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