COSL announces regional tax auction results

More than half-a-millon dollars raised from sale of tri-county properties

By Ralph Hardin

ralphhardin@gmail.com

You can get away with not paying your taxes for just so long before the state will take the opportunity to seize and auction your land.

Such was the case recently, as a recent auction of more than 150 tax-delinquent properties in Crittenden, Cross and St.

Francis Counties raised over $545,000, the Commissioner of State Lands announced.

Bidders were able to acquire several properties for just pennies on the dollar during the auction. Proceeds from the sales will be turned back to the counties for their general revenue funds.

The regional auction, one of several held across Arkansas in recent weeks, drew 111 registered bidders, who purchased 132 of 158 parcels for $545,447.49. Results were as follows:

• Crittenden County: 71 parcels offered; 57 parcels sold; $220,986.97 total; $56,667.26 taxes collected

• Cross County: 24 parcels offered; 24 parcels sold; $35,348.13 total; $12,798.50 taxes collected

• St. Francis County: 63

See COSL, page A2 COSL

From page A1

parcels offered; 51 parcels sold; $289,112.39 total; $23,159.73 taxes collected The auctions offered real estate parcels with taxes delinquent since 2019.

“We only auction a fraction of the parcels certified for delinquent taxes,” Commissioner Tommy Land said. “By far, most owners redeem their property by paying the delinquent taxes. Naturally we hope property is redeemed if the owners want to keep it, but it is vital that the parcels return to the county’s active tax rolls.”

The COSL office forwards taxes and interest to the county, whether that money is collected through redemption or sale.

“Last year, the Commissioner of State Lands Office sent more than $21 million to school districts and county governments,” Land said. “Of that, $780,793.73 went to these three counties, helping fund everything from roads to schools.”

Those turnback amounts were:

• Crittenden County: $420,978.38

• Cross County: $111,681.47

• St. Francis: $248,133.88 Auction sales are final. If you missed out on the opportunity to bid during the auction, there’s another opportunity on the horizon. Parcels that did not sell at the public auction will be available after 30 days and can be purchased through an online auction by viewing the Post-Auction Sales List at www.cosl.org.

If you have tax-delinquent property at risk of seizure and auction, unsold parcels may be redeemed online at www.cosl.org, using a credit or debit card, or owners can call 501-324-9422 to request a Petition to Redeem. Redemption does not grant ownership; it simply makes the

taxes current.