The recent auction of tax-delinquent properties in Jefferson County collected $262,167.20 for Jefferson County and state government, the Commissioner of State Lands said in a news release.
The Land Commissioner’s office conducted the auction of delinquent properties recently, which drew 52 bidders and sold 79 parcels.
The Land Commissioner’s office conducts one tax-delinquent land sale per county each year to dispose of land on which the taxes have been past due more than two years.
“We auction only a small percentage of parcels certified for delinquent taxes,” Commissioner John Thurston said. “In most cases, the original owner redeems the delinquent property by paying the back taxes.”
While redemption of property is the preferred method of disposing of tax-delinquent lands, Thurston pointed out the important role of land sales in returning inactive parcels to the tax rolls.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Registered bidders may purchase land at the auctions. The registration to bid is free. Upon the sale of tax-delinquent property, the commissioner issues a limited warranty deed to the highest bidder.
Thurston’s office returns delinquent tax and interest collected, whether through redemption or sale, to the county taxing unit just as if the money had been originally collected there.
“Last year, we returned more than $18 million to school districts and county governments,” Thurston said. “Jefferson County received over $566,000 of that amount. This is an important process, because it provides stable revenue necessary services including public schools.”
To view the public auction catalog, a listing of properties offered at auction, or the post-auction sales list of properties available that didn’t sell at auction, visit the Commissioner of State Lands website, www.cosl.org