By Adam Ophus

Tax Recovery

Town of Rocky and Clearwater County both looking for ways to recoup unpaid property taxes

Nov 6, 2019 | 3:21 PM

Clearwater County recently held a land auction on November 1 in an attempt to recoup financial losses due to unpaid property taxes.

The properties did not end up selling.

The Town of Rocky Mountain House held a similar auction on June 26 which also ended up not selling any properties.

Although both the County and Town are in similar situations, they each decided to take a slightly different route moving forward.

The Town intends to take possession of the property and put it up for sale, while the County is contemplating having the owner put them up for sale through a realtor.

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During a recent town council hall meeting it was mentioned that one of the properties is ready to have transferred ownership and that the current owner has no intentions of paying the $32,821.78 that is owed in property taxes.

It was mentioned during a town council meeting that leasing out the home in its current state wouldn’t be an option, and if the house were to later sell, they would need to notify the owner and give them a summary of the costs.

In a Clearwater County meeting covering a nearly identical topic, they appear to be taking a different approach.

“(The) County does have the right to take possession of the property, but we don’t recommend it. What we recommend is to contact a realtor to work with the owner to sell the home,” explained Corporate Services Director Murray Hagan.

“If the house sells, the lawyer will ensure the outstanding taxes are paid.”

County councilors expressed their concerns of why this is happening and how the taxes are going unpaid for so long.

“Since these homes are vacant, their owners just aren’t motivated,” Hagan added.

He later pointed out that during the auction they had to try and sell the home as close as possible to market value to protect the owner, which he mentioned they are looking at.

“This needs to be changed, because this could take years, we’re essentially offering free taxed real-estate,” expressed Councillor John Vandermeer.

Both County and Town ended their separate, yet similar meetings prefacing that it will be a lengthy process, but they will get their money back.