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Commission continues review of taxpayer's wrong-serial-number payment on parcel 63413
Summary
A taxpayer who says she paid property taxes to the wrong serial number and then lost the opportunity to reconcile after the parcel sold asked the commission for relief; the commission continued the item two weeks to explore remedies including abatement, lien or escrow negotiation.
The commission continued consideration of a tax-payment error involving parcel number 63413 after staff and the treasurer's office described timing and process constraints.
According to testimony, the taxpayer made an online payment in late November that used an incorrect serial number; the county's system posted the payment, but the taxpayer was not notified of any mismatch before a delinquency postcard was mailed Dec. 29. The property transferred ownership on Jan. 7, creating a situation in which the buyer's mortgage/escrow company received a rebate keyed to the paid parcel rather than returning funds to the original payer. Treasurer's office staff Carrie McConnell explained the timing problems and said the office had tried to identify the buyers and escrow contacts to facilitate reimbursement.
Commissioners discussed options including having the payer pursue the mortgage/escrow company for reimbursement, filing a lien on the parcel to preserve the payer's claim, or an abatement to credit the payer's account. Speaker 7 noted that an abatement would effectively shift the shortfall to taxing entities. After discussion Speaker 6 moved to continue the item for two weeks to allow staff to pursue options and gather additional legal/title guidance; Speaker 5 seconded and the motion passed (stated result: passes three-zero).
The commission asked staff to compile possible remedies and legal options, and to return with recommendations at the continued hearing.
