County set to host tax foreclosure property sale

By Michael Pommier

The Fort Scott Tribune

Bourbon County will be hosting a Tax Foreclosure sale at noon today in the lobby of the Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S. National.

Resident who currently do not have outstanding property tax are being invited to place bids on the 72 properties including 46 Hidden Valley Lake lots for sale by the county. By law, properties may be redeemed by the owner until the time of the sale so the number of properties may change.

The properties for sale have been delinquent in paying property tax for three years. The goal of the sale is not to make money for the county, but to get the properties back on the tax roll.

"It's not a money maker," Bourbon County Treasurer Susan Quick said. "The object is to get it back on the tax roll with an owner that will pay the taxes and keep the property up."

Ideally the property would be sold for the amount of the back taxes, however, according to Quick, the cost is so high that the properties go to the highest bidder and the balance of the tax is forgiven.

Quick said the last tax sale hosted by the county had a large turnout however, due to poor weather conditions, she is not sure if many residents will participate.

The sale will be held in the first floor lobby of the courthouse. Bidding numbers for the sale may be picked up in the Bourbon County Treasurer's Office on the second floor of the courthouse. For more information and a listing of the parcels to be sold visit the Bourbon County Web site at www.bourboncountyks.org.