Vacant business buildings, undeveloped land near a busy Center Grove area intersection, a race track in Whiteland and multiple homes with unpaid taxes are all set to go to auction next month.
The county is preparing to host its annual tax sale, with 191 properties up for sale.
This year’s list includes Whiteland Raceway Park, vacant land near U.S. 31 in Franklin, two vacant commercial buildings near Interstate 65 in Franklin with more than $45,000 owed in taxes and fines, seven pieces of green space within a Greenwood neighborhood and more than 3 acres of mostly undeveloped land at the northeast corner of State Road 135 and Stones Crossing Road, according to the list of properties.
That number is similar to last year, but could change in the days leading up to the sale if the owners of the properties pay the overdue taxes, fines and fees. For example, last year nearly 200 properties were initially set for sale, but only 79 actually went to auction. And of those, only 47 sold, according to the Johnson County Auditor’s Office.
Property owners are encouraged to pay the overdue taxes and fines as soon as possible, since the fees increase if the property actually goes to tax sale, Johnson County Auditor Pam Burton said.
Properties go to tax sale if they have unpaid taxes dating back to last spring or before, Burton said. And if they are sold, the owner has one year to pay the overdue taxes, fines and fees before ownership of the property actually is given to the bidder who wins at auction. Properties that do not sell can go back on the list for the next sale if the taxes and fees remain unpaid.
The lowest bid allowed at the auction is the amount of property taxes owed, since the goal is to recoup the unpaid taxes owed to local governments.
The amounts owed range from less than $200 to more than $44,000, according to the listing.
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The county is preparing to host the annual tax sale where properties with unpaid property taxes are auctioned.
When: 10 a.m. Sept. 18
Where: Johnson County courthouse annex, 86 W. Court St., Franklin
What you need: Bidders must register online at http://legacy.sri-taxsale.com/Tax/Indiana/Registration/. Bring your registration and W9 form to the sale.
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