Sheriff's office details New Castle County sheriff's‑sale process as executive office readies tax‑collection order

The New Castle County Sheriff's Office walked county council members through how court‑ordered sheriff's sales work and how the office posts, conducts and confirms those sales, and county executive staff said an executive order is being drafted to shield taxpayers who enroll in and comply with payment plans from county and school tax collection.

"We have a limited window of 60 days and then completion at 90 days," New Castle County Sheriff Scott Phillips said, describing the statutory timelines and the office's court‑mandated responsibilities. Phillips introduced Real Estate Coordinator Lynn Jump and Chief Deputy Ron Fioravanti to explain operational details and the office's web tools.

Jump told the committee the sheriff's office handles three kinds of sales: mortgage foreclosure sales, tax sales and judgment sales. "We set up mortgage foreclosure sales, tax sales, and judgment sales," she said, and noted the office typically schedules real‑estate sales for the second Tuesday of each month while working two months ahead to prepare listings and legal postings.

She detailed bidder and payment requirements: for tax sales the high bidder must pay 100% of the bid on the day of sale; for mortgage or judgment sales the high…