What does Tax-Title mean?

Parcels that have been offered for auction at tax foreclosure sales, but not bid on, are deeded to the county. These parcels are "Tax-Title". They may still be purchased from the county, but through a different process. Tax-title properties are subject to the same risks as tax foreclosure properties.

Parcels that the county owns, not acquired through tax foreclosure, can be purchased if they have been declared "surplus" by the Board of County Commissioners.

Purchasing tax-title and County owned property is done through public auction. It can take six months or more to bring a parcel to sale. This is how the process works:

• When someone is interested in buying a particular parcel, they can begin the sale process by filling out a "Petition to Purchase County property". The applicant is required to pay a fee per parcel. Applications are available at the Engineer's Office.
• Applications are reviewed by the Engineer and the county's property management committee.
• The committee makes a recommendation on whether parcels should be sold. If the committee recommends against the sale, a portion of the fee may be refunded.
• If the committee recommends in favor of the sale, a resolution is drafted and submitted to the Board of County Commissioners.
• At a public hearing, the council either approves or rejects the sale.
• If approved, the treasurer schedules a public auction and applicants are notified of the date, time and location. The auction is advertised in the local newspaper for three consecutive weeks.  It will also be posted on this website under "Upcoming Auctions".
• Anyone can attend the auction and bid on the parcels for sale.

Periodically, the Treasurer's office reviews tax title inventory and may hold a public auction on several tax title properties.  The same procedures as above are followed with the exception of the filing of a petition to purchase.