Council hears plan to target commercial properties in this year’s tax‑deed sale

Nancy Re, the city’s tax collector, told council that this year’s planned tax‑deed sale will focus on commercial properties owing more than $10,000 and at least three years past due. “There are 36 large commercial properties that owe quite a bit of money,” Nancy said as she explained the selection criteria.

Council members pressed for details about why residential properties were not included. Nancy and other officials said the decision reflected a policy choice by the current administration to limit the sale to commercial parcels, which tend to represent larger delinquent balances and produce greater collections. Officials also said past residential tax‑deed sales targeted properties with out‑of‑town mailing addresses when they were clearly rental properties and that most parcels presented at sale are redeemed before the sale is finalized.

Finance Director Leanne RS and council members discussed alternatives such as payment plans and other enforcement tools for delinquent residential owners. Leanne noted the city’s total outstanding tax receivable as of June 30, 2025, was about $54 million, which includes real estate, personal property and motor vehicle accounts. Nancy said the city typically limits a sale list to about 50 properties because of legal research and processing capacity required by outside counsel.

The tax‑deed sale was described as an enforcement tool intended primarily to spur payment rather than to transfer property ownership; officials said the administration will continue to offer payment plans and pursue collections.