The Town of Penhold will be holding a tax sale on Sept. 29 for some properties that taxes are still owed on.
Under the terms of the Municipal Government Act (MGA), “the municipality must offer for sale at a public auction any land shown on the tax arrears list.” The tax recovery/tax sale request for decision document produced by administration includes houses, manufactured homes and a Highway 2A property.
“There are 11 properties on the list this year,” said Penhold CAO Rick Binnendyk. “Two houses, eight manufactured homes and one business are delinquent in their taxes. “We don't like seizing people's homes but under the terms of the MGA we are bound by the law.”
Binnendyk noted that “efforts have been made to contact the owners of the properties” and pending council's approval, a final notice to the owners will be sent out.
Town of Penhold mayor Dennis Cooper added that overdue taxes can be paid up to the “last second,” before 10 a.m. on Sept. 29 and that it has been done before.
According to the MGA, reserve bids are based on assessments made by Bow Valley Assessments and based on fair market value.
“The procedure for tax sales is quite precise,” said Binnendyk. “It takes two years to get to the point where we can hold a tax sale and all it takes is the owner or someone willing to purchase the properties to halt them.”
He reminded councillors that family members of Town of Penhold employees as well as council members cannot bid on tax sale properties.
Tax arrears range from $390 to $12,837 based on assessed values of $11,530 up to $262,450. Purchasers of tax sale properties must remit 10 per cent at the time of sale payable to the municipality and the remaining amount is due within 30 days.
The auction will be held at the Penhold Regional Multiplex at 10 a.m. on Sept. 29.
A list of properties can be obtained from the Town of Penhold office at www.townofpenhold.ca
"We don't like seizing people's homes but under the terms of the MGA we are bound by the law."Rick BinnendykPenhold CAO
