When the Scott County delinquent property tax sale list was first advertised in early August there were 98 parcels with back taxes owed. By the time the tax sale on Monday, Sept. 29 began, that list had been pared down to 27 after property owners paid taxes owed prior to the sale.
This year’s tax sale was a live auction in the commissioner’s room at the Scott County Courthouse. Seventeen parcels failed to meet the opening bid.
The 15 parcels sold owed a total of $28,998.35 in unpaid property taxes and fees. There were five successful bidders who paid a total of $262,341.19 for those parcels. There were nine bidders registers for the auction.
“The county is only interested in the taxes owed,” said Scott County Treasurer Ryan Gabbard. “The amount paid over the taxes owed will go into a surplus tax sale fund.”
He added, “Tax sales are a necessary function of county government. It is only fair to the people who pay their property taxes every year to pursue those who do not pay.”
County Auditor Jennifer Hamelman explained that those properties sold last week can be redeemed by their owners by paying the taxes plus 10% for up to the next six months; after that the interest increases to 15%. Upon redemption, the surplus paid by the successful bidder will be returned to that bidder with interest.
Twelve properties, with a total of $19,264.01 in unpaid taxes, failed to obtain the minimum bid of taxes owed.
The Scott County Commissioners can now decide whether to have a Commissioners’ Certificate Sale to sell the nine properties that failed to receive a minimum bid for taxes owed and have them placed back on the roles earning taxes for the county. Typically, at a certificate sale the minimum beginning bid is $200.
Successful bidders included:
•Corey Sampson of Charlestown purchased one parcel for taxes owed $300.57
•M&M Investment Group LLC, Michael Ellis of Cortland, purchased 5 properties for a total of $25,250.29.
•Larry Tucker of Needham, IN bought two parcels for $46,000
•Lisa M. Conder of Scottsburg bought one parcel for $23,000.
•Home Free Enterprises LLC, Michael G. Foley of Muncie bought six parcels for 167,890.33
The following parcels sold at tax sale. Listed is the property owner, address, taxes owed; buyer and amount paid.
Finley Township
Raleigh Neace, 311 S. Big Ox Road, Scottsburg. $1,117.19; Lisa M. Conder, $23,000
Jennings Township
Alisha Shields, Angel Richey and Harmony Richey, 158 Blunt Ave., Austin, $2,177.91; Home Free Enterprises, $12,000.
Cleo and Hazel Owens, vacated alley with .021 of an acre on Blunt Ave., Austin, $890.33; Home Free Enterprises, $890.33
Walter Harold Pruett Jr,, Lot 13 on Sycamore St., Austin, $797.84; M&M Investments Group, $5,000.
Walter Harold Pruett Jr., 90 Sycamore St., Austin, $2,963.18; M&M Investments Group, $9,000.
Janice Pritchard, 239 Factory Drive, Austin, $3,700.36; Larry Tucker, $29,000.
Johnson Township
Timothy Lee Hoard, ,284 of an acres in the 2400 block of E State Road 256, Austin, $250.29; M&M Investments Group, $250,39.
Lexington Township
Estate of James R. Shepherd, ,09 of an acre on E. Mace Rd., Lexington, $200.57; Corey Sampson, $200.57.
Douglas S. Hardin, 5908 Eads Lane, Lexington, $530.85; M&M Investments Group, $6,000.
Douglas S. Hardin, 5946 Eads Lane, Lexington, $402.78; M&M Investments Group, $5,000.
James Dale Mills, 4524 S. Clark Road, Kexington, $1,313.44; Larry Tucker, $17,000.
Blue 52 Properties LLC, 2018 S. Peggy Lane, SB, $5,663.36; Home Free Enterprises, $50,000.
Blue 52 Properties LLC, Lot 27 on S. Peggy Lane, Scottsburg, $2,585.50; Home Free Enterprises, $33,000.
Blue 52 Properties LLC, Lot 108 on E. park Drive, Scottsburg; 581.44; $Home Free Enterprises, $2,000.
Vienna Township
Teresa L. Korte, 3795 S US 31, Scottsburg, $5,833.31; Home Free Enterprises, $70,000.