Hundreds of properties up for tax sale
GREENCASTLE -- The number of properties that will be up for sale at the Nov. 3 Putnam County Tax Sale will be large because a sale has not been held in the county for some time.
Under Indiana Code 6-1.1-25, Indiana's 92 counties have the authority to place liens on property, assume ownership of that property and sell it to recover delinquent taxes.
The last time a tax sale was held in Putnam County was in 2005. Putnam County Treasurer-Elect Sharon Owens said current Treasurer Janet Deaton was unable to get sales together the past few years due to "medical issues."
Owens said there are presently 744 properties listed for sale.
"There were 1,900 before we sent out courtesy letters," Owens said.
The letters Owens was referring to were sent out to property owners last spring, giving them the chance to pay their delinquent tax bills and avoid losing their properties.
The listing of properties first appeared in the Oct. 2 edition of the Banner Graphic. It appears again today and will be published one final time on Oct. 16.
"The number of properties that will actually be up for sale will likely be less than the 744, because people will pay their bills before the sale happens," Owens said.
The sale will take place at the Putnam County Courthouse and will begin at 10 a.m.
Owens said she plans to make yearly sales a priority so a sale of this magnitude does not have to be held again.