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Commissioners back changes to tax-sale ordinance to protect possessory and abutting interests
Summary
Controller Scott Parke proposed revisions to the county tax sale ordinance to prioritize possessory interests and abutting owners for nonviable parcels, tighten Pre-Tax Sale Committee roles, and require cash or certified funds by 4 PM on sale day; commissioners supported forwarding the revisions to a future agenda.
The Davis County Commission on June 9 reviewed proposed updates to the county's tax sale ordinance intended to reduce the sale of noneconomically viable parcels to uninformed bidders.
Controller Scott Parke said the county has seen examples of parcels that are not economically viable being purchased at public auction, citing a landslide lot in North Salt Lake that recently sold for $42,000 and describing it as "worthless" in the work-session discussion. To address similar outcomes, the proposed ordinance changes clarify priority tiers for preference sales: first to possessory interests, second to abutting property owners, and only then to the general public if no bids are received from those tiers.
The draft revisions also clarify the role of the Pre-Tax Sale Committee and tighten payment rules by requiring tax sale payments to be made in cash or certified funds by 4 p.m. on the day of sale, effectively eliminating acceptance of personal checks and credit cards at the sale.
Commissioners indicated support for Parke's suggested changes and asked that the Controller move the ordinance revisions to a Commission agenda for formal consideration and possible adoption.
The minutes include the full text of the ordinance chapter (Chapter 3.10: Real Property Tax Sale Procedures) and notes that the governing law is Title 59, Chapter 2, Part 13 of the Utah Code. Additional attachments detail specific sections (3.10.020 through 3.10.160) and amendments.
