Owner offers $50,000 to address back taxes; county requires lienholder consent for payment plan

At a public meeting April 28, a representative for a parcel owner proposed a settlement and payment plan to address delinquent property taxes on a parcel scheduled for tax sale. The owner’s representative said he would "write a check for $50,000" immediately and work to bring the remaining balance, including the 2021 assessment, current before the end of the year. He asked the commission to consider forgiveness of penalties and interest or a structured payment plan to avoid foreclosure.

Adam Mick from the County Attorney's office (property-tax officer) advised the commission on procedural limits and statutory requirements, noting that a payment plan in this situation requires consent from other lienholders: "it's required under statute to let all other lien holders... have to consent to it first." County staff said they have a form for such agreements and that a structured payment agreement would be needed because the parcel is on tax-sale status.

Commissioners acknowledged the owner’s offer and the constraints. One commissioner said forgiveness of principal was "off the table" but expressed openness to waiving penalties and interest if taxes could be collected and lienholder consent secured. The commission agreed to remove the parcel from the recommendation letter and continue the matter to allow the owner time (requesting two to three weeks) to pursue lienholder consent and finalize a payment agreement. The motion to strike that parcel from the agenda was approved by voice vote and recorded as "2 0."

County staff clarified timing for the 2021 taxes (due Nov. 30) and reiterated that any abatement of penalties would not occur until final payment and agreement terms were satisfied.

Next steps: the owner is to pursue lienholder consent and a formal payment agreement with county staff; the commission will consider the matter again once the required documentation is in place.