Hinds seeks $10M in tax sale

County notifies property owners of delinquent taxes three times by mail, and the tax information is published.
Hinds County hopes to collect up to $10 million in delinquent taxes from more than 11,000 parcels during its tax sale today.
Those who didn't pay their taxes by 5 p.m. Friday could have their property sold during the auction. The list of delinquents includes homeowners, businesses and organizations.
The tax sale list includes properties owned by Jackson Mayor Frank Melton, who owes $6,501.58 on his home at 2 Carter's Grove. The mayor said Friday he had put a check in the mail. However, the deadline to pay property taxes by check was Aug. 8. The Hinds County Tax Collector's Office now will accept only cash, money orders or cashier's checks, Hinds County Tax Collector Eddie Fair has said.
The county notifies property owners of their delinquent taxes three times by mail, and the tax sale information is published.
The majority of tax debts on the list are under $1,000, and some are under $100.
A property owner has two years from the date of the sale to redeem the property before a tax deed may be issued to the new buyer. The property owner is charged 1.5 percent monthly for overdue taxes.
Last year, Hinds had about 10,000 parcels in its tax sale, Fair said. Sometimes the same people are late paying their taxes, he said.
One of the largest 2008 tax debts belongs to the Audubon Jackson LLC, which owns an apartment complex and other property on Robinson Road in Jackson. The New York-based company owes a total of $144,997.97. The owners paid its taxes late last year, according to county records.
An organization, the Mississippi Housing Partnership, formerly the Jackson Metro Housing Partnership, has delinquent taxes on several properties in Jackson.
"We would love to pay on time, but we are a small nonprofit, and it's tough economic times. It's indicative of the economic times," said Tim Collins, executive director of the partnership.
The Housing Partnership makes loans to low- and moderate-income families. It also is involved in housing rehabilitation, property management and neighborhood development efforts.
The Housing Partnership has paid taxes on four houses it owns, but as of Friday, had not paid taxes totaling $5,451 on 10 other houses.
Fair said this year is on track to be similar to prior years and that Hinds historically has had a lengthy sale list.
He expects the county to take in $10 million, maybe more. The money won't be a windfall for the county, however, because the annual budget is set in anticipation of collecting those taxes, county Budget and Finance Director Lillie Woods said.
Deputy Chancery Clerk Greta Lovell, who is in the accounting department, said tax money collected will help the county meet its payroll and other financial obligations for September.
There will be two sales - in Jackson and in Raymond - because the county has two judicial districts.
The county gives taxpayers plenty of chances to pay their debts, Fair said.
"We're not trying to take anything," he said. "We want people to have their property."
The majority of parcels to be sold will be from Jackson, Fair said.
Those with delinquent property taxes in Hinds can pay today or anytime during the week. They will be charged interest on the late payment until it is paid.
Rankin and Madison counties will have their tax sales today as well. Rankin County Tax Collector Judy Fortenberry said the county will try to recoup $2.5 million.