Tax-delinquent properties sell for more than $1.4 million in Crawford, Franklin, Logan, Sebastian and Scott counties
Tax-delinquent properties were recently auctioned in Crawford, Franklin, Logan, Sebastian and Scott counties for a combined total of more than $1.4 million dollars. The regional auction drew 180 registered bidders, who purchased 90 of 99 parcels for $1,455,743, according to a press release from the Commissioner of State Lands Office.
By: River Valley Democrat-Gazette
LITTLE ROCK -- Tax-delinquent properties were recently auctioned in Crawford, Franklin, Logan, Sebastian and Scott counties for a combined total of more than $1.4 million dollars.
The regional auction drew 180 registered bidders, who purchased 90 of 99 parcels for $1,455,743, according to a press release from the Commissioner of State Lands Office.
The results of the auction were:
Crawford County: 28 parcels offered; 27 parcels sold for a combined $342,722.81; $22,072.70 in taxes collected.
Franklin County: Four parcels offered; four parcels sold for a combined $60,000; $3,017.58 in taxes collected.
Logan County: Seven parcels offered; seven parcels sold for a combined $60,000; $7,308.53 in taxes collected.
Sebastian County: 47 parcels offered; 39 parcels sold for a combined $921,520.20; $95,143.84 in taxes collected.
Scott County: 13 parcels offered; 13 parcels sold for a combined $71,500; $4,872.18 in taxes collected.
Any money collected through the sale that is above the amount of taxes, fees, penalties, interest and costs due at the time of sale are considered excess proceeds, according to Nikki Heck, director of public affairs at the Commission of State Lands Office. She said after the sale the money is held in escrow for one year, and afterward the former owner may apply for distribution of those excess proceeds. The money is held available for two years, and if the money is not collected within that time period, it is returned to the county in which the property is located, she said.
The recent auctions were for parcels that had been tax-delinquent since 2019.
"We only auction a fraction of the parcels certified for delinquent taxes," Commissioner of State Lands Tommy Land said. "By far, most owners redeem their property by paying the delinquent taxes. Naturally we hope property is redeemed if the owners want to keep it, but it is vital that the parcels return to the county's active tax rolls."
The Commissioner of State Lands Office forwards taxes and interest to the county, whether that money is collected through redemption or sale, the release states.
"Last year, the Commissioner of State Lands Office sent more than $21 million to school districts and county governments," Land said. "Of that, $1,517,722.58 went to these five counties, helping fund everything from roads to schools."
Those turnback amounts were:
Crawford County: $389,298.89.
Franklin County: $122,756.95.
Logan County: $83,084.31.
Sebastian County: $897,587.07.
Scott County: $24,995.36.
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