Staff report shows county property sales progress; supervisors press for treasurer briefing on tax-delinquent properties

Emily Streff, project manager in Economic Development, presented the county’s property-inventory update, reporting two active listings, three properties being prepared for listing and six pending transactions. Streff said most recent closings have been to owner-occupants or first-time homebuyers; one property is being rehabilitated to FHA guidelines for eventual sale to a first-time buyer.

Supervisor discussion then focused on tax-delinquent properties and foreclosure timing. Multiple supervisors asked why some properties carry back taxes that exceed assessed value and why a large number of properties remain eligible for foreclosure before the treasurer’s office. Staff said the treasurer had released a publication listing 575 tax-delinquent properties eligible for foreclosure (those with at least two years of delinquency) and agreed to invite the treasurer to the next committee meeting to explain the process.

Supervisors stressed the need for a district-level spreadsheet showing delinquent and eligible properties, how many are being actively pursued, and whether county policy changes could accelerate resolution. Staff said recent statutory changes (Chapter 75 updates) affect how sale proceeds are handled and that some proceeds now go to prior owners or unclaimed-proceeds funds rather than remaining with the county as before; supervisors said that shift reduces the county’s ability to recoup losses and increases the need to examine foreclosure and sale processes.