Sandusky County calls for back property taxes

FREMONT — The Sandusky County Prosecutor's office is giving notice to homeowners who owe back taxes — take care of it or find yourself in court.Prosecutor Tim Braun is fulfilling a campaign promise to actively prosecute real estate tax delinquency cases."We are trying to get a handle on this. This had to stop. It's about the schools, the library, the mental health levy, if we don't enforce the tax law then those agencies are in chronic budget shortfalls," Braun said.Sandusky County has about 900 parcels of land with delinquent taxes, said Sandusky County Treasurer Irma Celestino. The total amount of certified delinquent taxes owed to the county is about $2.5 million, she said. Tax delinquencies in 2013 reached about $5 million in money owed to the county, she said."The prior prosecutor (Tom Stierwalt) did not want to do foreclosures," Celestino said.She attempted to talk to Stierwalt about why they were not trying to get this money. "He never really gave me a reason," Celestino said.With no other resource to attempt to collect this money, Celestino contracted with a company that would pay the county some of the money owed and take over these parcels."I was envious of other counties who had prosecutors who pursued that money." Celestino is grateful Braun has chosen to prosecute the cases.Assistant prosecutor Kaitlin Klucas has been assigned the responsibility of working the massive backlog of these cases."The prosecutor's office is now able to properly get these settled. The office before (under Stierwalt) didn't have as many people as we do now," Klucas said.Cases have gone on for years, including many cases going back 10 to 20 years, Klucas said. Most cases owe tens of thousands of dollars. The largest amount someone owes on their property is about $42,000, Celestino said.If people are allowed to go years without paying property taxes, there is no incentive for them—or anyone else — to pay, Klucas said."This is something we are taking serious and acting on. This is money owed and it is for the betterment of the community," she said.Klucas sent out the first group of 30 letters to people owing the highest amounts. The letter warned people the prosecutor's office will be taking action unless they come into the treasurer's office to determine if they qualify to be placed on a payment plan or pay the delinquent taxes in full.Some people, after receiving those letters, have already contacted the Sandusky County Treasurer's office and were able to set up payments. One homeowner even paid the property taxes they owed in full."That made me feel good," Klucas said.She anticipates sending out the next round of letters to residents in a couple of months."We will keep doing this," Klucas said. "Once people hear what we are doing, we hope others who are delinquent start resolving theirs."Assistant Prosecutor Kaitlin Klucas stands inside a courtroom at Terra State Community College on Wednesday, May 3, 2017, in Fremont. Klucas is responsible for contacting property owners who owe taxesAssistant Prosecutor Kaitlin Klucas sits outside the offices at Terra State Community College in Fremont on Wednesday, May 3, 2017, while the Sandusky County Courthouse undergoes renovations.Assistant Prosecutor Kaitlin Klucas sits outside the offices at Terra State Community College in Fremont on Wednesday, May 3, 2017, while the Sandusky County Courthouse undergoes renovations.Sandusky County assistant prosecutor Kaitlin Klucas