Yates County will conduct tax auction April 18

YATES COUNTY--Yates County will be doing things a little differently this year when it comes to dealing with delinquent property taxes. The county will be holding its first tax auction Monday, April 18. The auction will begin at 6 p.m. and will be held at the Yates County office building at 417 Liberty St. in Penn Yan.
A tax auction is the sale of a right to a particular property in order to satisfy delinquent property taxes. A property owner still has the ability to buy back their parcel, but if they are unable or unwilling to, the property will then go to the highest bidder at auction. The successful bidder must pay the taxes due together with any other lawful charges and fees, and is given a right to the property evidenced by a tax deed or a tax lien certificate.
"In the past, the treasurer has received sealed bids on foreclosed parcels and usually, with legislative approval, the parcel would go to the highest sealed bidder," Yates County Treasurer Winona Flynn said. "This year the parcel will go to the highest auction bidder, with legislative approval."
Flynn said ever since becoming treasurer in 2013, she has spoken with many other county treasurers throughout New York State about the process. She noted the majority are selling their county's parcels through auction.
"Actually, I have never found any other county that was doing sealed bids," Flynn added. "I presented this option to the legislature and they agreed to try it this year."
The treasurer stated there are currently 46 parcels the county has available. She said the previous owner has until April 4 to buy back their parcel by paying all back taxes due plus interest, penalties and $1,500. Flynn added come April 5, the parcels that are still available will be posted on the county's website as well as in a binder in the treasurer's office, which is located in the county office building.
The auction will be conducted by Pirrung Auctioneers Inc. of Wayland, the Yates County Treasurer and licensed real estate brokers. For more, call 315-536-5192 or email treasurer@yatescounty.org.