Annual county tax sale nets $387,030

Putnam County officials conducted their annual delinquent property tax sale on Tuesday, Sept. 9, with the sale netting nearly $400,000 for the county.

A property tax sale is required to be held in each Indiana county for those properties where an owner of real estate fails to pay the property taxes from the prior year's first property tax bill installment. A tax lien on the property may be sold to satisfy the tax obligation to the highest bidder.

The owners of the properties sold at the tax sale have one year to pay the delinquent property taxes, costs and penalties to keep the property. The sale, conducted by Indianapolis-based SRI Inc. on behalf of Putnam County, offered 179 parcels to 44 bidders. SRI conducts tax sales in 83 counties in Indiana, Michigan, and Colorado.

This year's tax sale resulted in the collection of $387,030.24 from owners and buyers. In all, 257 parcels had all taxes, penalties and costs paid in full.

"Tax sales are a necessary function of county government," Treasurer Sharon Owens said. "It is only fair to the people who pay their property taxes every year to pursue those that do not pay."

For the 132 properties that did not sell, the county commissioners acquire a tax lien. The commissioners may offer those properties to the public at a sale at a later date.

"It is our ultimate goal to return these properties to the tax rolls as quickly and efficiently as possible," Auditor Lorie Hallett said. "Property owned by people that pay their property taxes ensure our local government services are fully funded."

For more information on property tax sales, visit www.sri-taxsale.com. For more information, residents may also contact Hallett at 653-5513 or loriehallettpcauditor@yahoo.com or Owens at 653-4510 or sowens@putnamcountyin.us.