When a property has been tax delinquent for four years, Douglas County begins the process of reclaiming it. That starts with a publication in the newspaper, like the one last week in the Telegram.
Homeowners listed have until Oct. 16 of that year to pay delinquent taxes.
According to Douglas County Treasurer Linda Helenius, they only have to pay the delinquent taxes from four years ago to stop the proceedings.
In the case of the homeowners listed in last week's paper, they would have to pay their 2008 taxes in full by Oct. 16 or lose their property. Even at that point, Helenius said, owners are given a three-month grace period to pay before the property is deeded back to the county.
The county offers payment plans for people unable to put down a lump sum, whether their taxes are one year delinquent or four. Helenius said she began offering payment plans last year, and has seen success with them.
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"People on payment plans are very consistent," she said. People can chose to have an automatic monthly debit from a bank account or pay by check.
"Your best option is to pay something," Helenius said.
For more information on tax delinquency and payment plans, call (715) 395-1348.
