Muncie Land Bank asks county to transfer 23 long‑unsold tax certificates; hearing set for Aug. 17

Nate Howard, director of the Muncie Land Bank, asked the Delaware County Commissioners on July 20 to assign a package of unsold tax‑sale certificates to the land bank so the nonprofit can bring problematic parcels back to productive use.

Howard told the board the county’s recent parcel‑level study — conducted with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation — shows repeated failures at the tax sale. He said a list submitted to the commissioners includes 56 parcels that together carry roughly $382,000 in delinquent taxes and that 23 of those were highlighted as “high priority.” Howard said those parcels have gone through auctions an average of 4.3 times and are unlikely to resolve on their own.

“We’re asking the commissioners to let us do what we’ve already shown we can do, take on what the market has passed over, and move it towards stable tax‑producing, community‑supported use,” Howard said, noting partnerships with Habitat for Humanity and local CDCs for rehab and resale.

County staff and commissioners discussed that assigning certificates to the land bank shortens the redemption period and shifts deed‑conversion costs off the county. Commissioners asked for follow‑up details about how many of previously transferred parcels remain in the land bank’s inventory; Howard said four parcels from a prior transfer are still held pending development by partner organizations.

Commissioner discussion focused on process and notice requirements. The board voted to set a public hearing for Aug. 17 to consider assignment of the 23 highlighted certificates; the hearing will include the statutorily required notice of which certificates would be transferred.

Next steps: land‑bank representatives will return for the public hearing and the county will publish the required notice in advance of Aug. 17.