Council ad hoc committee reviews tax-acquired property rules and land bank idea after high court decision

An ad hoc Caribou City Council committee met Aug. 25 to review city policy on tax-acquired property, to examine state legal changes following the U.S. Supreme Court decision Tyler v. Hennepin County (cited in discussion), and to revisit the idea of forming a municipal land bank to manage tax-acquired and blighted property.

The committee—whose attendees included committee chair (Councilor Dave, referenced by the report), Councilor Bagley, Councilor Lovewell and staff including Eric and Carl—reviewed the city’s current tax-acquired property policy and Maine statutes enacted in response to the Tyler decision. Committee members said the state changes make the city’s historical in-house disposition process difficult and require a formal updated policy.

Committee members discussed specific properties that have been offered to the city: 7 Water Street (a blighted structure) and 63 Sweden Street. Both properties had previously been subjects of foreclosure-waiver discussions; owners have indicated willingness to convey those parcels to the city. The committee noted disposals of such properties are likely to involve blight-removal costs and that a clear policy is needed before the typical waiver-of-foreclosure process later in the year.

The committee asked staff (Eric) to draft suggested policy changes that incorporate statutory developments and to circulate proposed language to committee members for review; the committee aims to present a recommended policy to the council before the end of 2025.