By GAYLE WEBER

gweber@dailynews.net

As of this morning, 11 tracts of property with taxes due of more than $127,000 will be up for sale Tuesday at the Ellis County tax foreclosure sale.

The sale begins at 9 a.m. in the commission chambers of the Ellis County Courthouse.

Treasurer Mickey Billinger said the sale was initiated because total delinquent taxes exceeded the $300,000 threshold necessary to have a sale. Since then, many property owners have paid the taxes due, but 11 tracts remain.

"There are some properties on there that may not sell for the amount of taxes we have against them," Billinger said.

Of the total amount owed, $51,383.92 is owed by the owner of the building at 2004 Vine. Billinger said those taxes were delinquent from 2000 to 2004, but taxes have been kept up since those years.The building is owned by Sheila Thompson and Lazy A Inc., according the Ellis County Treasurer's office.

Most other properties have delinquent taxes up through the 2009 tax year. Property owners have until the end of the day today to pay the delinquent taxes in full in order to have the property taken off the sale.

Billinger said those hoping to buy the properties on the sale should be prepared to pay cash or with two checks -- one to the district court for the property and one to the register of deeds for a recording fee.

Any taxpayer who owes delinquent taxes or has special assessments delinquent cannot bid on the property, Billinger said.

Also included on the sale are the Ellis railroad depot, the grain elevator in Walker, three homes in Victoria and a storefront in downtown Ellis. More information about the sale is available at www.e-treasury.us.

Ellis County has not had a tax foreclosure sale since 2003.