Executive and Finance Team forwards stale checks and 2012 tax-certificate write-offs to full county board

The Richland County Executive and Finance Team voted May 1 to send two routine financial housekeeping items to the full county board: a resolution canceling stale county checks dated Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2023, and a write-off of certain outstanding tax certificates from 2012.

Ashley, who presented the items, told the committee the stale-check list includes payees who had not responded to requests for reissuance; staff said they continue outreach prior to asking the full county board for cancellation. On the tax certificates, the presenter cited a state requirement and said most of the 2012 certificates under consideration relate to contaminated properties that the county would not accept via tax deed; one property is historic.

Motion to forward the stale-check resolution was made by Manning and seconded and approved by voice vote to send to the full county board. A separate motion to forward the 2012 tax-certificate write-off also passed by voice vote. No dollar thresholds for reissuance were adopted at the meeting; committee members discussed whether to set a minimum amount for reissuing checks (members mentioned figures including $1, $1.75 and $3.03 as past reference points) but took no formal action on a threshold.

Why it matters: Canceling stale checks and writing off old tax certificates are standard annual financial procedures that clear long-outstanding items from county records. The tax-certificate write-offs reflect limits on taking contaminated properties by tax deed, the presenter said.

The committee did not adopt any changes to county policy in the meeting; both items were forwarded to the full county board for final action.