The prosecutor’s office informed the city May 12 it would have 10 days to file a forfeiture petition and would be required to pay $1,626 in back taxes and $1,573.44 in court costs to acquire the property.
If the city chooses not to acquire the property, it would be forfeited to the state where it can be sold at public auction with the bidding starting at $1, according to Donnette Fisher, city law director.
The city has already used $55,068 in Move Ohio Forward funding to demolish the structure and placed a lien on the property for those costs in addition to city liens for $2,848 for delinquent utility assessments and $55.67 for unpaid lighting assessments, according to Fisher.
“If we do not seek forfeiture of this property, it will be forfeited to the state and it is highly unlikely we would recoup any of the $55,068.30 we are owed,” Fisher said.
Council agreed and approved a resolution to file the petition for the property foreclosure.
Funds to acquire the property would come from the Property Acquisition Fund, Fisher said.
Download the free Journal-News app, Butler County’s #1 source for local news
About the Author
