A Chancellor has ruled that the delinquent tax sale scheduled for this month will go ahead as planned despite the request from the County Commission that it be delayed. However, Chancellor Douglas Jenkins said he would consider the Commission’s concerns for future tax sales.
The issue arose at this month’s Greene County Commission meeting when several commissioners expressed their concerns about the sale of delinquent tax properties moving from an in-person sale at the courthouse to an on-line sale. Commissioners had asked County Attorney Roger Woolsey to file a request with the Chancery Court asking that this month’s sale be delayed.
Commissioners were concerned that opening the sales to an on-line only sale could lead to property being bought by outside people who may not develop or maintain the property in the best interest of other Greene Countians. Commissioners also pointed to the complicated process by which the auction is held as a barrier for some who may normally buy those properties.
In his ruling, however, Chancellor Jenkins said that the Tennessee Legislature has expressly condoned online sales, and that there isn’t likely to be a valid reason not to allow it. Jenkins wrote that his ruling would apply to this already scheduled sale, and that the court would be willing to discuss a solution for future tax sales.
