ashe

It used to be clear and you could hear everything. I guess their equipment got the china virus. Given that no one wants to come the least over paid bums could do is assure a quality video.

I think they picked up their video equipment at an old UHF surplus auction after the digital transition.

God that video quality is terrible. Reminds me of the old days of watching TV on an antenna while your neighbor is on his CB with an illegal leaner..

The Commissioner meeting video is now posted on the County website. This topic is discussed starting at about the 20 minute mark. FYI

Opening bids on tax foreclosed properties begin at the amount of taxes owed plus attorney fees. If no one bids the bid becomes the counties bid and is left open for 10 days to be upset. If no one upsets the bid it becomes county property. That is when you can get a good deal on a property but if the county accepts your offer it is advertised and open for 10 days for upset bids.

Foreclosed properties have to be auctioned off and the county gets whatever it brings at auction. It's not uncommon for a property to sell for less than the taxes owed.

What determines the tax foreclosure selling price, taxes owed or FMV? Is there an NCGS that specifies?

The county only started doing tax foreclosures a few years ago while Little was still employed. They did very few because Kilby was doing them and political pressure kept Little from doing but a few at a time. When the current tax collector came back to the county Ashe started using a law firm out of Asheville that does tax foreclosures for many counties in NC.

That is correct Fins, it appears the BoC had no choice in the matter since the Tax Collector had not taken action within the allotted statutory limit. Someone should take out an ad in the Second Hand News and Mountain Times saying "Your Welcome" signed "Ashe County Taxpayers".

In case anyone is interested, here is the statute.

§ 105-378. Limitation on use of remedies.

(a) Use of Remedies Barred. - No county or municipality may maintain an action

or procedure to enforce any remedy provided by law for the collection of taxes or the

enforcement of any tax liens (whether the taxes or tax liens are evidenced by the original

tax receipts, tax sales certificates, or otherwise) unless the action or procedure is instituted

within 10 years from the date the taxes became due.

(b) Not Applicable to Special assessments. - The provisions of subsection (a),

above, shall not be construed to apply to the lien of special assessments.

(c) Repealed by Session Laws 1998-98, s. 26, effective August 14, 1998.

(d) Enforcement and Collection Delayed Pending Appeal. - When the board of

county commissioners or municipal governing body delivers a tax receipt to a tax collector

for any assessment that has been or is subsequently appealed to the county board of

equalization and review or the Property Tax Commission, the tax collector may not seek

collection of taxes or enforcement of a tax lien resulting from the assessment until the

appeal has been finally adjudicated. The tax collector, however, may send an initial bill or

notice to the taxpayer. (1933, c. 181, s. 7; c. 399; 1945, c. 832; 1947, c. 1065, s. 1; 1949,

cc. 60, 269, 735; 1951, cc. 71, 306, 572; 1953, cc. 381, 427, 538, 645, 656, 752, 775, 1008;

1955, c. 1087; 1957, cc. 53, 678, 1123; 1959, cc. 373, 608; 1961, cc. 542, 695, 885; 1965,

cc. 129, 294; 1967, c. 242; c. 321, s. 1; c. 422, s. 1; 1969, c. 96; 1971, c. 806, s. 1; 1998-98,

s. 26; 2006-30, s. 6; 2011-3, s. 3(b).)

So that's the thing, this is a book keeping issue now. They can't collect even if they wanted to

Fins yes there is a limit on how far back the county can go to collect taxes and its 10 years. Other boards sat back and would not even do a tax foreclosure.

I would think if someone is outstanding on taxes during any part of 93-2010, then they are probably still not paying their taxes. I mean, if someone skipped 95-2000, but started paying again wouldn't any payments be applied to back taxes and not the current years forward? If I skip a house payment, I don't just get to leap ahead. I'm always behind until that month is also made up. It makes me think there must be some accounting advantage to writing this period off.

Also, I doubt this is on say, just 3 big tracts that have high market values. It's most likely on a whole bunch of crap properties that if the county sold them, would only generate a fraction of that money at an auction.

The Agenda Attachment shows just over $1.716M for unpaid taxes and interest.

When and if this was written off, does that give those property owners a clear tax bill unless they owe for years 2011 to date?

Did they say how much this amount is?

Dog, isn't there a limit to how far back the county can go to collect if they haven't done anything yet?

You can skip through the video and watch it rather then waiting on the minutes to be approved and published.

Someone mentioned the County Manager was on WKSK this morning talking about the Tax Administrator requesting to write off 1993-2010 delinquent taxes. I checked on the BOC website and saw it was on the 9/21 meeting agenda but the meeting minutes haven't been published yet. Does anyone have any information on this?