Fourteen properties could be auctioned off next month so the City of Red Deer can recover owed taxes — unless the owners settle before the April 26 sale.
Reserve bids for these properties, approved by city council on Monday, ranged from $10,000 for a manufactured home to $935,000 for a commercial property in North Red Deer.
A report to council stated properties are eligible for tax sale after three consecutive years of unpaid property taxes.
Council is required to approve tax sale reserve bids based on market values. And in January, an independent appraiser was contracted to evaluate and assess the market value of the properties.
Approval of the reserve bids allows administration to continue with further legislated options to collect unpaid property taxes.
In past years, very few properties have had to be sold at public auction to recoup taxes because in most cases, the owners have worked out a tax repayment schedule with the city’s revenues and assessment department before auction day.
