Lake County staff proposed an ordinance to stop billing and pursuing tax sales for secured parcels with total assessed value of $5,000 or less. Treasurer Patrick Sullivan and allied finance staff told the board the county currently bills roughly $246,000 from those parcels but only collects about $160,000 because delinquencies are common and tax sales frequently draw no bids, producing a net loss when administrative costs are included.

What supporters said: County finance officials argued the administrative and legal cost to attempt tax sales, send certified notices and manage appeals exceeds the revenue recovered on many of these parcels. They presented modeling of the staff time and estimated losses over potential tax‑sale cycles and highlighted the burdens placed on Treasurer, Assessor and Auditor offices.

What the city and code‑enforcement staff said: City managers and public‑safety representatives warned exempting low‑value parcels would remove an enforcement lever (the ability to place liens and use direct code‑enforcement charges) used to address blight, vegetation hazards and public‑safety risks on properties owned by out‑of‑area owners. Clear Lake city manager Alan Flora said many problem parcels are in that low‑value category and the city relies on liens and the possibility of foreclosure to compel cleanup.

Board action: Supervisors debated alternatives — short‑term county purchases, focused MOU approaches with cities to aggregate parcels, targeted enforcement, or continuing to require tax‑sale auctions. The board directed staff to continue work with cities, special districts and tribes and continued the ordinance to Jan. 13, 2026, for further recommendations. Several supervisors said they wanted stronger evidence and cooperative local solutions before permanently removing billing tools.

Why it matters: Tens of thousands of small, often inaccessible or 'paper' parcels exist in Lake County; the measure would change longstanding collection practice and shift how local governments pursue blight and public‑safety remediation. Staff said the exemption can be rescinded if a different practical acquisition or remediation plan is agreed.

Next steps: Staff will work with municipal and special‑district partners on coordinated options, provide mapping and demographic breakdowns of low‑value parcels, and return to the board in January.