Owners can still pay up

Delinquent taxpayers still have time to redeem their parcels before the upcoming negotiated tax lien sale.

On Monday, Sept. 28, Lawrence County Treasurer Stephen Burcham will offer 710 parcels to TaxEase of Cincinnati in a negotiated tax lien sale. If the company accepts all parcels it will bring $1,839,336.23 into the county in back taxes and administrative fees.

However, taxpayers have until Friday, Sept. 25 to set up a payment plan with the treasurer’s office and not lose their property.

“I want to emphasis all of these parcels are delinquent for two years,” Burcham said. “They have gotten tax bills at least four times. This shouldn’t be a surprise.”

The tax lien program is in its fifth year and has brought in approximately $4 million in delinquent taxes.

“Selling the tax lien is a measure of last resort,” Burcham said.

When the offer is made to Tax-Ease, the company will review all parcels to determine if they meet their requirements.

“We don’t know if a parcel is abandoned,” Burcham said. “Part of their contract is it has to be occupied. Someone has to be there. They don’t typically purchase tax liens on vacant land.”

Typically the buyer of a lien can foreclose in a year. However in TaxEase’s contract foreclosure can’t occur for 18 months.

“We are not asking (taxpayers) to do anything than what their neighbor is doing,” Burcham said. “If they have had a problem or a health issue, they can set up a contract with no interest.”