The Board of Supervisors discussed the pros and cons of offering the annual land tax sale online.
Tax Collector Hope Herrington and Ryan Matthews, president of GovEase, a private company that helps facilitate online tax sales, met with the board to discuss the issue.
Each year, state law requires the county to hold a public auction of unpaid land taxes, which is always held the last Monday of August. The sale is usually held in the courthouse.
Matthews presented a proposal to the board which would offer bidders the opportunity to place bids on parcels strictly through an online bidding process, which would eliminate the need to conduct an actual sale at the courthouse.
The annual land auction brings in around 200 people to bid on land parcels. According to Tax Collector Hope Herrington, bidders are comprised of approximately 35% local buyers with the remainder out of county and out of state buyers.
Herrington stated by offering the land sale online, it will reduce liability to the county and allows more people access to purchase at a tax sale.
There would be no cost to the county and GovEase would only receive a fee of 1.25% of the overall sale if there were overage bids. Overage bids are the amount in excess of taxes, interest, print fees and penalties. Last year the county received $25,000 in overage bids.
Last year’s land auction brought in $282,000 plus $25,000 in overage.
“We offered this (online) to Madison and Leake counties and they had a ½ million increase in revenue,” Matthews said. “It is a transparent sale and we want to make sure everyone has an opportunity.”
By offering the sale online, anyone with a computer, smart phone or tablet can participate and place bids on tax liens.
This matter was taken under advisement for further discussion.
In other business, the board
• Approved the purchase of the outdoor warning siren at a cost of $24,333 to be installed at the Shubuta Fire Department. The siren will be activated when needed from Central Dispatch
• Approved a claims request for payment to Taylor Power in the amount of $99,025 for the purchase of four generators for Stonewall, Pachuta, Enterprise and Shubuta. The county will be reimbursed cost through grant money
• Approved a motion to add a truck to county inventory donated by Carmichael Volunteer Fire Department and to be used by that department
• Approved a refund in the amount of $30.52 to a taxpayer for an incorrect land tax assessment
• Approved Good Friday as holiday for county employees. The courthouse will be closed on April 14th in observance of Good Friday.
• Approved Sheriff Deputy Bradley McNeese to attend the Police Academy in April
• Approved a special claims to pay grand and petit jurors for one week of civil duty at a cost of $3,140.45 total
• Met with Steve Neely, Auctioneer to discuss an upcoming county surplus auction that will be held April 1st at the Central Maintenance county barn. County surplus is vehicles, heavy equipment, guns and other items that are no longer being used by the county departments or sheriff’s department.
