County nets cash at tax auction

By JOE LoTEMPLIO
Staff Writer

July 05, 2008 04:00 am

— The properties were sold on June 19 after being foreclosed on by the county for delinquent taxes.
Residential properties that are four years behind in taxes and vacant land that is two years behind are foreclosed on by the county and put up for public auction.
The sale of the 27 properties brought in $226,500. After paying the delinquent taxes, the county netted $164,645.
The money will go into the county's general fund.
"It was a pretty decent auction," County Treasurer Joseph Giroux said. "The bidders were not afraid to bid."
Bidders showed up from New York City, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Texas, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Maine to purchase property.
Of the 27 properties that were sold, only two sold for less than what was owed in taxes, Giroux said.
When properties are sold for less than the delinquent tax amount, the legislature must approve the sale, which they did at Wednesday night's Finance Committee meeting.
jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com