Treasurer updates committee on delinquent parcels, auctions and an annexed tax-exempt parcel

The county treasurer told the Portage County Finance Committee that a backlog of delinquent property accounts remains and that several will come to auction in the coming weeks. The treasurer said one parcel from the 2018 tax year remains unpaid, two parcels from 2022 are scheduled for auction starting Sept. 22 and running through Oct. 13, and seven parcels from 2021 are tax-dated with two owners attempting repurchase by Sept. 26; remaining 2021 parcels will be brought back for the committee to set minimum bids. The treasurer also said the county still has about 55 parcels remaining from an earlier tax year that will require additional decisions, including whether environmental inspections are needed.

The treasurer noted an unusual title/annexation issue: "we have Portage County has 1 parcel that was annexed into the village of Milador and from the town of Oak Lane...the new owner is tax exempt," and asked the committee to consult staff with longer institutional knowledge. The transcript uses the village name both as "Milador" and "Miladore;" committee members asked staff to verify the village and the annexation history before deciding on collection steps. Committee discussion focused on administrative next steps; the treasurer said he would present assessed values, inspection history and owed amounts for affected parcels to help the committee decide whether to require environmental inspections or set minimum bids.

No formal policy change was adopted at the meeting; the committee directed staff to return with the requested packet of parcel-level details next month so the group can set minimum bids and finalize inspection needs.