Gila County board authorizes abatement of taxes on 51 uncollectible personal properties

The Gila County Board of Supervisors voted May 12 to authorize the treasurer’s office to abate taxes, interest and fees on 51 records for personal property that county staff determined are no longer collectible and to authorize the chair’s signature on certificates of clearance.

Treasurer Monica told the board the 51 certificates concern mobile homes that are no longer located in Gila County and have been certified by the county assessor’s office as removed from the tax rolls. She said state statute allows removal where the cost of pursuing lien sales or seizure would equal or exceed the likely revenue. “These 51 certificates for clearance for uncollectible taxes…are mobile homes that are no longer in Gila County and have been certified by the Gila County assessor’s office,” Monica said.

Supervisor Humphrey noted that in many cases the sheriff’s office could not locate the units and staff found only vacant lots or debris at the addresses. Monica said “there’s probably about a dozen that are on the reservation…so they are exempt from being on the tax roll.”

Supervisor Humphrey moved the authorization and Supervisor Klein seconded; the board voted to approve the request.

The authorization directs the treasurer to abate the listed records and execute certificates of clearance for removal of uncollectible personal property. The board did not adopt any change to county tax policy at the meeting; the action applies only to the specific certificates presented to the board.