May 19, 2021 |
OPELOUSAS – St. Landry Parish President Jessie Bellard announced Wednesday that landowners that are behind on their property taxes could see the parish take over their land.
“We have several landlords in the parish not paying their taxes but still collecting rent and making money off these properties,” said Bellard.
He said if the taxes on a property haven’t been paid, the property becomes adjudicated.
“The parish will attempt to collect the tax, and if not paid within 30 days, St. Landry Parish will take over the property and put it up for sale,” said Bellard.
Each year the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office holds a tax sale of various properties for which the previous year’s property taxes were not paid. At this tax sale, people may bid on these properties and acquire a tax title. Not every property is bid on at the tax sale. The properties that receive no bids are “adjudicated” to the Parish St. Landry. Through this act of adjudication, the parish is given a type of “tax deed” to the property. By state law, the parish is authorized to sell the adjudicated property.
“The parish doesn’t want the added liability that comes with adjudicated land,” said Bellard. “We offer it for sale if the property owner can’t keep current on the taxes.”
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