BOSTON -- A 74-year-old blind woman could have a lien placed on her home if she fails to pay the penny she owes on an outstanding sewer bill.

Eileen Wilbur said she received a notice from the city of Attleboro, Mass., stating if she did not pay the penny, a $48 lien would be assessed to her next property tax bill, the Attleboro Sun Chronicle reported. Wilbur has until Dec. 1 to pay the bill.

Wilbur said the town wasted taxpayer money when it spent 42 cents to mail the notice, which stems from a water and sewer bill from fiscal year 2008.

City collector Debora Marcoccio said the letter was among 2,000 sent out. She said the notices are automatically printed and it would be "fiscally irresponsible" to have her staff weed through them before they are mailed.

Marcoccio said the city sends out bills for the outstanding balances before lien notices are issued. Marcoccio said the city will not waive the balance.

"If there's a bill, it must be paid," she said.

Wilbur's daughter, Rose Brederson, called the situation "ridiculous."