Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Property Conveyance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Tax committee acts on conveyance resolve after properties redeemed
Summary
The joint taxation committee moved on LD 2075, removing properties redeemed by taxpayers and recording a committee vote in favor of the motion on the resolve authorizing the state tax assessor to convey state interests in certain unorganized-territory properties.
The Joint Standing Committee on Taxation considered LD 2075, a resolve to authorize the state tax assessor to convey the state's interest in certain real estate in the unorganized territory. Steven Sullivan, deputy director of the Property Tax Division at Maine Revenue Services, told the committee he provided updated copies of the resolve removing properties that taxpayers had since redeemed and paid arrears.
Sullivan said, "I did bring in copies of the bill that have properties in the resolve that have been removed, because the taxpayers have redeemed the properties, paid their back taxes, and so they're no longer subject to the resolve." Committee members asked how long owners can redeem and how realtors are selected for sales in the unorganized territory; MRS explained redemption is accepted "right up until the time that we put it out for sale by ... a real estate broker" and that the state uses a contracted realtor selected via RFP for those sales.
Sen. Bruce Bickford moved "not to pass LD 2075 as amended with the properties taken out that have since paid their arrears," and the motion was seconded. After limited additional discussion, the chair called for a vote and named members who indicated support. The chair recorded the result as "unanimous of those present." The committee then closed the LD 2075 work session.
Why it matters: LD 2075 would clear certain redeemed parcels from the authorized conveyance list so the state does not proceed to sale on properties recovered by former owners. The committee's action removes redeemed properties from the resolve and advances the remaining conveyances per the recorded motion.
Next steps: The committee closed the LD 2075 work session; any remaining administrative steps (notice to former owners and the state's sale process) will follow statutory timelines described by MRS, including notice and a subsequent 90-day redemption period before sale.
