Judicial Sale Of Delinquent Properties Scheduled Nov. 8

Potter County Tax Claim Bureau (TCB) will try one more public auction this year in an effort to get more properties returned to the rolls for school district, county and municipal real estate taxes. A Judicial Sale has been scheduled for Monday, Nov. 8, at 10 am in the auditorium of the F. W. Gunzburger County Office Building. TCB Director Todd Brown explained that it’s the next phase of the state-mandated effort to collect back taxes and get properties back on the rolls.

The TCB already held its Upset Sale for those properties on which 2008 taxes remain unpaid. That was followed by a Continuance Sale, giving bidders one more chance to buy those properties. For the first time in modern history, neither of those auctions resulted in a single sale, due in large part to the fact that the county does not guarantee clear title. Mortgages, liens and other encumbrances may apply.

That caveat is removed in the Nov. 8 Judicial Sale. Instead, the county sets a minimum bid to recover overdue taxes, costs and interest, but all mortgages, liens and encumbrances are wiped clean. Taxpayers who still owe their school district, municipal and/or county obligations from 2008 or earlier still have time to redeem their properties, but that window is closing. More information is available by calling the Tax Claim Bureau at 274-0488.

In 2009, the TCB began allowing those who owed back taxes to make monthly payments. Many have taken advantage of that option,  reducing the list of properties subject to the Upset Sale and Continuance Sale, but if they miss a monthly payment the property goes back on the list for sale.