During the Vance County Board of Commissioners regular meeting on September 2, the Proposed Schedule of Standards & Values for the 2008 Property Revaluation was passed unanimously without debate or public comment.
Immediately afterward, Tax Administrator Sam Jones gave his monthly report to Commissioners on tax collection.
Jones told the Board that his office is currently engaged in collecting 2007 taxes which are not due until September 1. He said that the collection of 2007 taxes would be a “focal point” of upcoming months, mostly from property tax and automobile tax.
Referring to page 3 of Jones’ report, Vance County Board of Commissioners Chair Deborah Brown asked if the county made an effort to get “low value” properties in the county name.
Jones responded by saying that his office had made a judgment that the cost would be too high to foreclose on certain properties and that those properties would have no buyer.
Jones indicated that the expense of foreclosing was $2,500 regardless of the property’s value.
County Commissioner Scott Hughes asked if it would be more beneficial to “wipe taxes off” of such properties.
Jones initially responded that it would be ideal, but later indicated that property taxes run with the property and cannot legally be forgiven.
Assistant County Attorney Jonathan Care said he would have to look into it.
County Commissioner Terry Garrison asked if properties could be sold for the amount of the back taxes. Jones responded that they could. Garrison indicated that the County should proceed with the foreclosures, even though it may take ten to fifteen years to recover the cost. He called it an “equity issue”.
Commissioner Dan Brummitt asked for a list of properties rated by Jones as “low” or “poor” condition.
County Manager Jerry Ayscue warned commissioners that when the County takes over a property, it is also responsible for environmental issues that can have “a high cost for the county”.
Care commented that something needs to be developed to address substandard properties. He also stated a need to find out what the minimum bid could be on dilapidated properties.
Referring to page 4 of Jones’ report, Brown asked what was to be done with the top five delinquent business accounts.
Jones replied that the number one tax delinquent business, Albani Bayeux, Inc., had not been in Henderson since 2001. He added that the number two, Cameron & Associates, is currently in business and making payments. Number four, Donald W. Gupton, Inc., represents debt on real estate that the federal government may have an interest in, and that number five, Wright Funeral Home of Henderson, had made a payment of $10,000 in May and another payment of $25,000 in August.
Although Commissioner Danny Wright called for all of the accounts to be turned over to the County Attorney, after a few moments of debate he moved that Albani Bayeux, Inc. be turned over to the County Attorney and that C R E Properties LLC and Donald W. Gupton, Inc. be turned over to the foreclosure attorney.
The motion passed without opposition.