[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6154751,"mediaKeyId","5483437-a07ff410a6bb4d6edfc5472440c21c5b","parentId",5483437,"title","Council asks for audit of tax‑sale process, CivicSource notices and property‑sale revenue","audioSeconds",480,"startMs",4325000,"endMs",4805000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5483437-a07ff410a6bb4d6edfc5472440c21c5b&start=4325&end=4805","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5483437-a07ff410a6bb4d6edfc5472440c21c5b/thumbnail_4325000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6154751/Bastrop/Morehouse-Parish/Louisiana/Council-asks-for-audit-of-taxsale-process-CivicSource-notices-and-propertysale-revenue","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6154751-69faa299bfda4291ab003eb7f4d52984/orig.mp4?Expires=1770534855&Signature=b0-OjB3gYyHdfZpOKYfGsZhWGuwiwb0IH8f8OqnWl9xJcUjST6p6u1FA5q5JoYidx-oa3MlQbzt1EhWFDhK4WDK1jCpCS1jzqyiVkjiHYaUM~3D02ridxpAtngWWqwohodkca46gRJvVVeNkJlDdke~Y7Fg68lIM5XsaU13HD6BICX2BQBILHsXvKNvBmVukH2h5hSDgH0JNpsojYXf2Q~zyvxDRdD~RD0Ek2oFrutoJCPGzrZ1j1o7Ah53ZpMUcY6wELVU24G-DEZ7D8-twX7Jt-J-jZYV48hOk11VTd0~byp9~UXSMlSkG~lkIypjnqBLSP9ULT6XiuA~pY-532g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Bastrop, LA","date","2025-07-26T20:16:22.873Z","article","Council members raised questions about the city’s administration of adjudicated or delinquent properties and the vendors that handle notices and sales, saying it was unclear whether the city received expected revenue from tax‑sale activity.

Council members referenced CivicSource and other third‑party vendors that send notice of delinquent taxes and assist with adjudication sales. Staff said CivicSource does the notices and that companies such as Silasco (named in discussion) have performed tax‑sale advertisement and sale functions for the city.

At the meeting councilors asked staff to compile a history of adjudicated property sales, including the properties sold, sale prices, vendor fees and net revenue to the city. Council members said the sale and advertising process should be evaluated for transparency and to determine whether the city is realizing full value for adjudicated properties.

Officials also said the city has the authority to pursue adjudicated properties but historically has not consistently taken title; instead, outside vendors or buyers have been used to clear title. Staff said they would obtain records showing which properties were sold and for what amounts and would examine whether the current vendor arrangement is producing the best return.

Why it matters: Adjudicated property and tax‑sale processes can be a source of municipal revenue and influence the availability and maintenance of vacant properties; councilors signaled they want a review to ensure the process is advertised and operated transparently and that proceeds are properly recorded in the budget.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","7/24/25 Special Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Councilors asked staff to compile records about tax adjudications and the vendors that handle delinquent‑tax notices and sales, after members said property sale proceeds and advertising results were not apparent in current budget materials.","taxTitle","Bastrop, Morehouse Parish, Louisiana","taxId",69771,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6154755,"Bastrop council discusses condemning dilapidated home at Bentley and Montgomery; staff to seek engineer report",1204,418000,1622000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5483437-a07ff410a6bb4d6edfc5472440c21c5b&start=418&end=1622","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5483437-a07ff410a6bb4d6edfc5472440c21c5b/thumbnail_418000.jpg","/articles/6154755/Bastrop/Morehouse-Parish/Louisiana/Bastrop-council-discusses-condemning-dilapidated-home-at-Bentley-and-Montgomery-staff-to-seek-engineer-report","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6154755-e60afeeb06e9b879f4ce688d913e0dcf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770534855&Signature=bKSAm2XppU4hgniUO~WMo-~LXMETmCx5LlPK91K9qElncbAT6a-90tNJBOOoe3HK1V-rm-JRxjUpMUBgp2fwuSisqyk2ftG0CQZieLwIvS-UhzS3YMNkNA50tzuTkJXp2ruCfQ10UmHvxa6HdK~IflmbQLBE0LwzMmlZMn9clKpanAXpbJJqn3~zop3vZfxkgZqsd~LQ9WLMgM3hFulD3mriJ6a1BM7Q5fUnBtLLtZ3SG5Ab9zjuK973Wq7Dz-a-SdtadBt9LGI03MUxYCyQ2EYTShiT804sWhxIUUbfaddQ3JpJ7Trt~g7~2G93tQTBHh5QjyAtBWLDCqXYN0t4Wg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members discussed a longtime problem property at the corner of Bentley and Montgomery, describing transient occupancy, unsanitary conditions and frequent trash and dumping that residents say pose a public hazard.

Council member Derry Green, speaking for his district, said the house is “very dilapidated” and that transient activity has produced safety concerns for neighbors. Green said he had spoken with the city attorney and that the city would pursue an engineer’s assessment and legal options: “I’m gonna get with the attorney and see if we can, as a city, condemn it altogether.”

City staff told the council that condemnation requires a finding that a structure meets the state law definition of a dangerous building. Officials said an engineer’s report is required to document conditions such as lack of utilities, structural instability or attractive‑nuisance activity. Staff said some properties lack running utilities and show signs of long‑term neglect; the absence of utilities is one factor officials cited that can support a dangerous‑building finding under state criteria.

Council members also discussed a broader inventory of blighted properties. Staff said a prior grant submission included a list of roughly 62 properties identified as problematic; Robert Wexman, a contracted grant writer referenced during the meeting, had previously submitted paperwork related to that blight grant. Councilors asked staff to obtain and verify the documentation underlying that list.

The council asked staff and the city attorney to return with: an engineer’s assessment for the Bentley/Montgomery property, a legal recommendation on condemnation steps and timeline, and the grant paperwork and property list tied to prior blight applications. No formal condemnation action was taken at the meeting; the matter remains contingent on the engineer’s report and legal review.

Why it matters: If a property meets state criteria for a dangerous building, the city may pursue condemnation and corrective action — which can include notice, a hearing and, where authorized, demolition or abatement — but officials said the process requires documented findings and is subject to legal constraints.","Councilors described a single‑family residence on Bentley and Montgomery as dilapidated and a public hazard; they directed staff to obtain an engineering report and legal guidance that could lead to condemnation proceedings under state dangerous‑building rules.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6154760,"Bastrop mayor presents balanced proposed $14.3 million general fund budget; council to review",6062,1707000,7769000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5483437-a07ff410a6bb4d6edfc5472440c21c5b&start=1707&end=7769","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5483437-a07ff410a6bb4d6edfc5472440c21c5b/thumbnail_1707000.jpg","/articles/6154760/Bastrop/Morehouse-Parish/Louisiana/Bastrop-mayor-presents-balanced-proposed-143-million-general-fund-budget-council-to-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6154760-6fc7b75800356a0c7759b4ba754ae5a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770534855&Signature=CfmoX0UzUFcGvFyHuf4WdmE~9AXhB6a29FqUWr1t~GbVbjJ1QBNd666d1IaWMgwLKUbTiIDAMQx~WbjKs~l7L~Z17BrskWUH8q2Zb-cAmMXrXv2Yc9~cTkCXnPyWUVpQG8YnHVtDiiVKrOvNH1Ww2nq7lAmAl9sz6sjwgHxui6q7zg5RP9-2MqXz8WuoaYurxqnHZhds6oz0-SpscNDD~VfoYofd0LD2X5zUtI-9c-tuBjLrsTV-cnUq5Fshodb7Gn5x1UN0UhppnG0RwE46WwAiiLfPSLe2PEDZ1QNGjzMHECy2HiiX86-zRhZa58zql9PYifrF~ONVGo1s7P5PoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Moore and the city’s newly announced budget and policy director, Ricky Smith, presented a proposed general fund budget to the Bastrop City Council for review, saying the administration is submitting a balanced plan that projects $14.3 million in general fund revenue.

The proposal includes a conservative sales‑tax projection of about $6.2 million and counts roughly $1.6 million in one‑time grant or reimbursement funds, officials said. Smith described the presentation as “just for review,” and said the council has time before formal adoption to amend or request additional detail.

The budget matters because it establishes the city’s operating priorities for the coming year, allocates funds for public safety and capital projects, and outlines how one‑time grant funds will be used. Smith said the administration prioritized public safety and built the estimates on a five‑year average of revenues and a conservative forecast for sales tax collections.

Council members and residents pressed for clearer documentation and timing. Resident Charles Bradford opened public comment by asking whether the budget had been posted and available to the public for review. Smith replied the administration planned to post the budget well in advance of the public hearing so residents and councilors would have time to review it, and he repeatedly stressed that the document before the council was a proposal that the council could amend.

Officials identified multiple large one‑time items in the proposal, including a FEMA hurricane reimbursement Smith described as “over half a million dollars.” The budget also counts federal and state community development block grants (CDBG) that the administration said total about $1.6 million and are intended to support repairs to city hall and street projects. Smith said some grant awards and reimbursements can lag and that engineering and bidding timelines can change actual project costs.

Council members asked for more granular support materials. Smith told the council the packet included a five‑year actuals report and that staff would produce a capital outlay schedule that aggregates projects across funds to make one‑time versus recurring items easier to identify. He also said staff would produce support documents showing account codes consistent with Louisiana Legislative Auditor guidance.

Several expenditure lines prompted specific questions. Smith acknowledged an approximately $125,000 aggregate penalty in the last audit period tied to late or untimely payroll withholding remittances and said the administration is working with the Department of Revenue to obtain invoices and determine the periods and causes. Council members also asked about a $33,000 item labeled bank fees and an insurance line that showed a large year‑over‑year increase; Smith said staff would investigate and provide itemized explanations.

Council discussion also covered staffing and operations: Smith said the mayor had identified key positions to fund and that the administration trimmed overestimated salary and benefit allocations inherited from the prior proposal to reach a balanced plan. He said the administration will request a quarterly budget review and a midyear amendment process so the council can compare year‑to‑date actuals with adopted estimates and adjust if variances exceed predefined thresholds.

The meeting included discussion of grants administration and consultants. The council was told Robert Wexman (referred to in the packet as a contract grant writer) had worked on a blight grant application that originally listed roughly 62 properties; Smith said staff was still collecting and verifying paperwork related to that application.

Smith said the administration will post the budget, supply the requested backup documentation (including capital outlay and grant reports), and provide quarterly year‑to‑date reports so councilors can track revenues and expenditures as the fiscal year progresses. No vote on the budget was taken; the item remained at the review stage.

What’s next: staff will post the proposed budget, deliver the capital outlay and grant support documents requested by councilors, and produce quarterly and midyear comparisons of actuals to adopted estimates.","Mayor Moore and budget director Ricky Smith presented a proposed general fund budget that the administration says is balanced, projecting $14.3 million in revenue and conservative sales‑tax receipts; council members asked for further documentation, quarterly reviews and more detail on one‑time grants and past payroll and penalty expenditures.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council asks for audit of tax‑sale process, CivicSource notices and property‑sale revenue

Bastrop council discusses condemning dilapidated home at Bentley and Montgomery; staff to seek engineer report

Bastrop mayor presents balanced proposed $14.3 million general fund budget; council to review