Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Friday, January 26, 2007

Delinquent taxpayers owe $1.4 million

By JOAN KENT / La Crosse Tribune

La Crosse County collected about $1.7 million in back taxes between September and January, but delinquent taxpayers still owe almost $1.4 million.

The amount, which includes taxes owed back to 1999, is not unusual and not out of line for a county of about 110,000 people and had a $17.4 million tax roll in 2005, said Donna Hanson, county treasurer.

Before adding the 2005 delinquent bills, she said, the Treasurer’s Office had back taxes down to $700,000. The 2005 delinquencies brought the total up to $3.1 million.

Some people paid after the names were printed in the

La Crosse Tribune on Dec. 30, Hanson said. But she said many paid after receiving a September notice of delinquent taxes, which contained a warning that the names would be published in the newspaper at the end of December if the past-due bills were not paid.

The next step is foreclosure on the properties, Hanson said, reporting the office is preparing foreclosures on about 28 properties with back due taxes dating to 2003. Owners still can pay the taxes until the foreclosures go to court later this month at a date yet to be set.

Often mortgage companies pay the taxes and then raise the owner’s payments, she said. If the taxes aren’t paid, the properties go to sheriff’s sale, usually in the spring, Hanson said.

The city of La Crosse has a four-payment plan, and the other municipalities have two-payment plans, she said. In addition, she said, her office gives the option of monthly payments. But if people do not make those payments, she said, the arrangement is voided.

About 30 people now make monthly payments to the county, Hanson said.

Top 10 Delinquent property taxpayers in La Crosse County

Taxpayer, amount owed

Kinney Road Motel LLC, $72,522

Myra L. Forseth, $28,407

Vince G. & Linda Hamilton, $23,361

FTW Enterprises, $23,276

Valley View Car Wash Partnership, $21,929

M&M Properties of La Crosse LLC, $19,424

Raymond G. Hale Jr., $18,477

Dennis M. Peterson, $16,814

Nancy L. Benson, $16,783

GB Property Management LLC, $14,617

Note: Includes taxes back to 1995. For current delinquent tax list, go to www.co.la-crosse.wi.us, and then to the Treasurer’s Office.

Source: La Crosse County Treasurer’s Office

Joan Kent can be reached at (608) 791-8221 or jkent@lacrossetribune.com.