By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA–The annual Shelby County delinquent tax sale will be Monday, March 23 at 10 a.m., and Property Tax Commissioner Don Armstrong is encouraging property owners within Shelby County to pay their delinquent tax notices to save them trouble in the future.

The Tax Commission advertises the list of names and properties in the Shelby County Reporter for three weeks prior to the sale date on March 23.

“We make phone calls trying to get in touch with these people to remind them that they need to pay these taxes before they go to the tax sale,” said Armstrong. “Once it goes to the tax sale it gets very complicated, and as far as the redemption side of it, there’s an additional cost involved and it’s just more expensive to the tax payer.”

Armstrong has conducted the auction in the past and things have been done to try and speed up the auction process.

“It used to take two or three days to get this done, but we’re able to get most of it done in a days’ time now,” said Armstrong.

September will mark 10 years since Armstrong has been the Shelby County tax commissioner and his main emphasis is to encourage people to do everything they can to pay their notices.

“We really need people to do all they can to try and get this paid prior to the tax sale,” said Armstrong.

At the time of purchase at the auction, the buyer will be given a paid receipt. After five business days, the buyer is issued a certificate of purchase and not a tax deed according to the Shelby County tax commission web site.

Purchasers may pay by certified check or cash on the day of the sale.

Here is a link to the list of properties for sale: ShelbyCountyDelinquentTaxList2015