County attorney offers explanation for tax sale
County commission had approved tax sale in 2002
Staff reporter
Susan Robson, Marion County attorney, addressed the Marion County Commission Friday regarding the county tax sale.
During the previous commission meeting Jan. 26, commissioners expressed concerns regarding expenses related to the county auction of properties that are delinquent in paying county taxes. The commission also stated they were not aware of the tax sale and felt they had no choice but to approve the expenses and resolution for the sale.
Robson told the commission Friday they had authorized the sale and she did not appreciate the response from the commission regarding the expenses.
Leroy Wetta, commission chairman, apologized to Robson saying he had misstated the information.
"I was upset about the general fund," said Wetta, "and I was upset about the expenses coming out of the general fund."
Robson responded that she understood the expenses would come out of her budget.
"Over $130,000 of delinquent taxes have been collected since the beginning of the process," said Robson. Originally, 96 properties were on the delinquent tax list.
Hannaford Abstract and Title Company had charged the county $150 per title search for 22 properties. Robson said it was a fair price.
"Hannaford's saved the county about $3,000," said Robson, "by not charging the county for those properties that were pulled."
Robson gave Hannaford Abstract the original list of 96 property owners. As property owners paid the taxes, Robson notified Hannaford's and the county was not charged for any work related to those properties.
Waiting for a larger number of delinquent tax properties is not efficient, said Robson, referring to a comment from the previous commission meeting that 22 properties was too small of a number to auction.
"It's not fair when people are allowed to slide by for four or five years and not pay their taxes," added Robson.
"I would appreciate it in the future if there is a problem, you come talk to me instead of me reading about it in the newspaper," said Robson.
The petition will be filed on Monday for the remaining delinquent tax properties. At press time, there were 22 properties that will be on the auction block with property taxes not paid.
In a later interview, Robson said that the tax sale had been approved in 2002 for budget year 2003.
"Due to budget constraints, the tax sale was postponed," said Robson. "Hannaford's didn't finish the title work until 2004 so the funds to pay them could come out of the 2004 budget."
Robson would like to see a tax sale every other year or every three years.
"The delinquent taxes need to be recovered on a regular basis," said Robson, "especially with the county solid waste fees (as a part of the collected taxes)."
Robson added she usually has district court obligations on Mondays and is unable to attend the commission meetings.
