Roscommon County treasurer reports year-end finances, flags foreclosure and class-action work

Treasurer Marcy Danker presented Roscommon County's fourth-quarter 2025 report and summarized a set of continuing tax-title and class-action-related tasks. She said the county's investments are "hovering just under 4%" despite a modest federal rate cut and that staff will monitor federal actions in 2026.

Danker explained the treasurer's office is processing prior-year foreclosure excess-proceeds claims from about the 2013—2020 period. "We have paid out approximately five of those on those prior years," she told the board, adding that six claims still require circuit-court review because of probate complications or competing claimants. She also said the county joined a class-action settlement and has paid about $20,000 so far; an additional billing for roughly $12,000 was recently received to cover participating-counties' legal expenses.

On potential legal exposure, Danker said petitioners have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to consider a claim from an Isabella County case arguing counties must pay fair market value for foreclosed properties rather than only excess proceeds. "They're stating that we need to pay out fair market value for a property and not just the excess proceeds," Danker said, and noted that a Supreme Court filing could change liability and cost for counties.

She also reviewed local tax-administration activity: the county's principal-residence-exemption audit program issued 62 denials in 2025, with only two appeals filed to the tax tribunal, generating about $14,000 in county denial-interest receipts. Danker said the treasurer is coordinating contested excess-proceeds cases with the prosecutor's office and preparing matters for circuit-court judges as needed.

The board asked clarifying questions about the class-action accounting and timing; Danker said some matters remain pending and referenced coordination with Prosecutor Edwards.