10/22/12 Marshall County officials held their annual delinquent property tax sale on October 16th. The sale was conducted by County Auditor Penny Lukenbill and County Treasurer Debbie VanDeMark. A property tax sale is required to be held in each Indiana County for these properties where an owner of real estate fails to pay the property taxes from the prior’s year’s first property tax bill installment. A tax lien on the property may be sold to satisfy the tax obligation to the highest bidder. The owners of the properties sold at the tax sale have one year to pay the delinquent property taxes, costs and penalties to keep the property. The sale, conducted by Indianapolis based SRI on behalf of Marshall County, offered 69 parcels to 30 bidders. SRI conducts tax sales in 83 counties in Indiana, Michigan and Colorado.
This year’s tax sale resulted in the collection of $429,063.78 from owners and buyers. 161 parcels had all taxes, penalties, and costs paid in full. Treasurer Debbie VanDeMark said, “Tax sales are a necessary function of county government. It is only fair to the people who pay their property taxes every year to pursue those that do not pay.”
For the 34 properties that did not sell, the county commissioners acquire a tax lien. The county commissioners may offer those properties to the public at a sale as a later date.
The county Auditor Penny Lukenbill commented, “It is our goal to return these properties to the tax rolls as quickly and efficiently as possible. Property owned by people that pay their property taxes ensure our local government services are fully funded.”
For information on property tax sales, visit www.sri-taxsale.com.
