Delinquent taxes down in Ellis County

8/14/2008

The list of 2007 delinquent real estate taxes is published in today's Hays Daily News on page A7. The list will include property owners names along with the legal descriptions of real estate properties that have delinquent 2007 taxes. This is the first publication of three that by statute must be published for three consecutive weeks.

"The 2007 delinquent real estate tax list consists of 209 properties, totaling approximately $355,000 in delinquent taxes," said Ellis County Treasurer Mike "Mickey" Billinger. "This is down from the 2006 list where there were 294 properties, totaling approximately $450,000 in delinquent taxes."

Billinger said that after the list is published three times, those properties that continue to have delinquent tax will be converted to tax sale status. If unpaid for three years, these properties can be sold at a foreclosure sale.

Payments receipted by the treasury at this time include a $16 publication fee as well as interest calculated at 11 percent per annum. Billinger said if taxpayers have problems or questions concerning their 2007 taxes, they should call his office as soon as possible.

"Delinquent tax payment contracts are available to those on the list that wish to pay off their delinquent taxes by making monthly payments," Billinger said.

For more information, contact the Ellis County Treasurer's office at (785) 628-9465.