Mount Vernon outlines next steps for surplus property auction, reports tax-lien sale proceeds

At the Sept. 30 meeting the Board of Estimate and Contracts heard an update on city-owned surplus properties, upcoming auctions and recent tax-lien sale proceeds. City officials said a real-estate committee completed a first phase review and recommended seven properties to the city council for possible sale or transfer.

Officials said properties recommended by the committee will be forwarded to the city council for approval; parcels not recommended for municipal use are expected to be offered at public auction. Staff warned that auction sales will be “as is” and buyers will be responsible for title issues. The officials noted the city has held an inventory of many of these parcels for roughly 11 years because foreclosures and disposition have not proceeded in prior years.

On tax-lien sales, staff reported two recent sales: one in June that was said to have yielded about $600,000 and another held the prior week with estimated proceeds described in the transcript as approximately $1.516 million if fully executed. Officials said proceeds will help pay certain liabilities, including school taxes, and that parcels unsold at sale will proceed to in-rem foreclosure and title review. The third and final tax-lien sale for the year related to 2020/04/25 liens was noted as scheduled for December and will follow the same process.

Officials also outlined next steps tied to the budget timeline: departmental revenue and expense submissions will be reviewed and returned to the board, delinquent tax cash-reserve assessments will be compiled for inclusion in the proposed budget, and the administration expects to call a public hearing by Oct. 15 with the schedule to complete hearings before Nov. 23. No formal vote on property disposition was recorded in the meeting excerpt; the committee’s recommendations were described as forthcoming to the council for action.