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Treasurer
Address:
Office Hours:
319
Court street
Monday - Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm (except holidays)
Sault
Ste. Marie, MI 49783
Phone:
906-635-6308
Treasurer:
Public Land Auction -
August 2007
Marilyn McDonald
mmcdonald@chippewacountymi.gov
*All
tax information must be obtained over the phone, not through email.
Personal Property Taxes Guide
Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to read the form.
Overview
Elected to a four-year term, the County Treasurer serves as the custodian of all
County funds, and as such is responsible for receipting, recording and investing
all money deposited with the County. The Treasurer is also responsible for
maintaining debt service accounts for all the bonded indebtedness of the County.
Beginning March 1st of each year the Treasurer collects delinquent real property
taxes and following an extensive notification title work process a court order
is issued which allows for the sale of properties which are more than 24 months
delinquent. The CountyTreasurer also serves as the agent of the delinquent tax
revolving fund, through which the County is able to forward to local units the
amount of delinquent taxes due and owing on real property.
The
Treasurer is responsible for the sale of dog licenses in the County and
certification of deeds and other real estate title transfers prior to recording
the documents.
The Treasurer is a member of the Plat Board, the Elections Commission, the
County Apportionment Commission, the County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority,
the County Economic Development Corporation, and the County Land Bank.
What Every Property Owner Should Know
Public Act 123 of 1999 shortens the amount of
time property owners have to pay their delinquent taxes before losing their
property. Property owners with taxes that are two years delinquent will be
foreclosed and the property will be sold at public auction.
For example, people who fail to pay their 2004 property taxes will lose their
property to foreclosure in March, 2007.
With this new act, the amount of time to pay taxes has been reduced from
approximately five years to approximately two and a half years.
Properties owners face high interest and fees for not paying their taxes. Taxes
that are delinquent for more than one year will have a substantially higher
interest rate (1.5% per month, as opposed to the current 1%). After one year,
taxes will have a $175 forfeiture fee and additional administrative fees added
to them.
FAQs
Public Act 123 Questions and Answers
Q. If I don't pay my taxes, will I
really lose my house and property?
A. YES. Property owners who had delinquent taxes under the old
law could also lose their property, but they had more time to pay and
more "second chances." Under the new law, if your taxes are delinquent
for
two years, that's it. You've lost the property.
Q. What is a delinquent tax?
A. A delinquent tax is a tax that has been forwarded to the county treasurer
for
collection on March 1 of the year after it was due. For example, taxes
that are billed by your city or township treasurer in 2005 were turned
over as delinquent to the county treasurer on March 1, 2006.
Q. What happens after the property is forwarded to the county treasurer
for
collection?
A. The county treasurer adds a 4% administration fee and interest of 1% per
month. After one year, the property is forfeited to the Chippewa
County Treasurer. For example, the 2004 taxes that are still unpaid as
of
March 1, 2005 will be in forfeiture as of March 1, 2006.
Q. What does it mean for my property to be in forfeiture? Does that mean
I
lose my property?
A. NO. Forfeiture is not foreclosure. If your property is in forfeiture,
you still
have a year before it will be foreclosed. However, the interest and fees
will be higher. When a property is forfeited, the interest rate goes
from 1%
per month to 1.5% per month, back to the date the taxes became
delinquent.
A $175 title search fee is added along with other notice fees.
Q. What happens after my property is in forfeiture?
A. After property has been in forfeiture for one year, it will be
foreclosed.
The 2004 property taxes will be foreclosed in March 31, 2007.
Q. What happens after my property is foreclosed? How do I get it back?
A. You CANNOT get your property back after it has been foreclosed.
FORECLOSURE IS FINAL. Property that has been foreclosed will be SOLD
at public auction.
Q. What if I can't come up with all the money right now?
A. Even if you can't pay your taxes all at once, you can still make partial
payments until the balance due is $325. The final payment in the
amount
of $325 to cover all the fees must be made prior to the foreclosure date.
Make your check or money order payable to the Chippewa County
Treasurer. To ensure your payment is applied to your parcel, please
write your parcel number on your check or money order along with the
year you intend to pay. The mailing address is: Chippewa County
Treasurer, 319 Court Street, Sault
Ste. Marie, MI 49783.
Q. Will I receive any notification before my property is foreclosed?
A. YES. At least five (5) notifications will be made. Two (2) will be by
First Class
Mail, two (2) by Certified Mail and the last notification will be made by
personal service. In addition to these notifications, names and
addresses
of delinquent property owners may be published in a newspaper of general
circulation within your community.
PROPERTY FORECLOSURE TIME LINE
JULY & DECEMBER 2006
2006 property taxes billed by City, Village, or
Township Treasurer.
MARCH 1, 2007
Unpaid 2006 property taxes are forwarded to the County Treasurer for
collection. The County Treasurer adds a 4% administration fee and 1% per month
interest.
OCTOBER 1, 2007
The County Treasurer adds a $15.00 mail notice fee (cost of sale) to each
delinquent parcel.
MARCH, 2008
Property is forfeited to the County Treasurer. The County Treasurer adds a
$175.00 Title Search fee and $20.00 Recording Fee. Interest increased from 1%
per month to 1.5% per month back to the date the taxes became delinquent.
OCTOBER, 2008
Property visit fee added.
DECEMBER, 2008
Publication fee is added.
Unpaid properties are published in the newspaper.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY, 2009
Show Cause Administrative hearing is held .
MARCH, 2009
Final judicial foreclosure hearing
Judgment entered and filed.
MARCH 31, 2009
Last day to pay taxes to avoid foreclosure.
APRIL, 2009
Treasurer takes title to foreclosed properties.
JUNE, 2009
Advertise office notice of Minimum Bid Auction.
JULY, 2009
Minimum Bid Auction.
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