Fourteen local properties could be auctioned off on April 18 to recover owed City of Red Deer property taxes.
Red Deer city council was told from eight to 40 properties typically fall on the annual tax arrears list.
This year’s list is shorter than some previous ones — but it includes an Oriole Park property valued at up to $410,000. Most of the properties on the list are valued at between $200,000 and $300,000.
Coun. Vesna Higham wanted to the public to know that city staff have been willing to work out various payment methods with the property owners for the past three years.
Council was told that after two years of a property being in tax arrears, the city can put apply for tax recovery and put a lien on the title. The year following, the property is eligible for a tax sale.
But property owners can always choose to pay off the owed taxes anytime before April 18.
The Municipal Government Act requires council to set a reserve bid on the properties going up for auction to recover taxes that have been owed for more than three years.