Schuyler
County’s annual property tax auction is scheduled for Friday, June 28. However, county officials are giving
foreclosed property owners one last chance to avoid the loss of their land.
On
Monday (May 13), the Schuyler County Legislature voted to allow former owners
who lost their properties in this year’s foreclosure to submit offers to County
Treasurer Holley Sokolowski to buy back the land. If accepted, County Attorney Steven Getman is
authorized to prepare a deed to the former owner, returning the property.
The
offer must be accompanied by payment of “the full amount of taxes, penalties,
interest and other county expenses involved with the property,” the legislature
held.
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| County Treasurer Holley Sokolowski and County Attorney Steven Getman |
Offers
can be accepted up to two weeks prior to the auction, or June 14, Sokolowski
said.
“After
the deadline, any remaining properties will be sold to the highest bidder at
the county’s tax auction,” she explained.
Prior
to the deadline, the county provides written notice of the opportunity to the former
owners, Getman noted.
“The
notice reminds them of the foreclosure and provides options to avoid the sale,”
Getman said. “Notices are sent by mail and, in addition, copies of the court’s
foreclosure judgment are served on the properties by the sheriff’s department.”
The
foreclosure order transferring ownership of each property to Schuyler County
was entered by County Court Judge Dennis Morris on March 29, Getman said.
The
May 13 resolution is the latest step in the county’s efforts to collect overdue
taxes while keeping people in their homes, Sokolowski said.
According
to Sokolowski, each November, the county mails out Foreclosure Notices and
Petitions to properties with back tax liens from the prior year. Those notices go out by both regular and
certified mail to property owners, mortgage holders and others with identified
interests in the delinquent properties.
The notice warns that failure to pay the back taxes can result in a
court order foreclosing on the property.
The
county also publishes a list of the delinquent taxes in two local newspapers
and, in certain cases, posts warnings on the properties that they could be sold
for back taxes, she noted.
In
addition, though not required by law, in February, Sokolowski and Getman sent
letters, with handwritten notes on the envelopes, to property owners who still
had not paid their back taxes, in an effort to prevent foreclosure.
“That
cut the delinquent list by more than half,” Sokolowski said. “A lot of people
came in and paid when they got the letters.”
Only
after each of those steps occurs, Getman explained, does the court enter a
judgment foreclosing on the property.
“Under
the law, after the foreclosure order, the county conducts a tax auction in
order to satisfy delinquent property taxes,” Getman said. “At the auction, the successful bidder must
pay the taxes due together with any other lawful charges and fees and is given
a quitclaim deed to the property.”
The
properties to be auctioned will be posted on the county's website as well as in
a binder in the treasurer's office, Sokolowski said.
As
County Treasurer, Sokolowski is the chief fiscal officer of county government
and enforcement officer for unpaid property tax liens.
As
County Attorney, Getman is the chief legal advisor for county government and
responsible for the prosecution and defense of civil actions brought by and
against the county, including tax matters.
The
current chair of the Schuyler County Legislature is Dennis Fagan. The resolution to allow the buy-back was
introduced by the county’s “Management and Finance” committee, chaired by
legislator Phil Barnes. The resolution passed unanimously among the members
present.
For
more details on the buyback program, the tax auction and other aspects of the
foreclosure process, interested persons can contact the county treasurer
(607-535-8181) or visit the county’s website (https://www.schuylercounty.us).
