If Duchesne County collected all of its delinquent taxes, the county would have nearly $1.5 million more in revenue to spend.
Many of the property owners who have yet to pay their 2009 property taxes to the county owe as little as $18.93 while others are in debt by more than $30,000 for the year.
According to the county’s 2009 delinquent property tax rolls as of Jan. 25, land developers Frank Joseph Steed and Joan Steed, owners of Duchesne Land LLC, owe more than any other business. Duchesne Land has an outstanding tax bill of $34,235.75 for 2009. Another business associated with the couple has yet to pay $14,886.63.
The Steeds currently face charges by the Utah Attorney General’s Office for tax evasion and failing to file a timely or proper tax return. A hearing on their motion to dismiss the charges had been set for Feb. 3 at 2 p.m. in Salt Lake City's 3rd District Court, but was reportedly continued because of a judicial scheduling conflict.
Another big nonpayer is Roger Brockbank, a land investor from the Wasatch Front. As of press time, he was listed as owing Duchesne County $16,043.19.
According to Mindy Clegg, Duchesne County deputy treasurer, tax notices are mailed annually each October and payments are due Nov. 30.
“After that due date, we send out postcards with a reminder,” Clegg explained. “Sometimes people come in after the postcards or call and say, ‘I wasn’t aware it was due.’ Some are nice and pay it. Some want to argue.”
Typically the dispute is over the fact that taxes unpaid or postmarked after Nov. 30 are subject to a penalty of 2 percent of the amount of the tax or $10, whichever is greater. This formula means that the penalty on a tax bill under $500 is only $10.
“They act like it is our fault that they have penalties due,” Clegg said. “We had one owner that came and wanted the penalty waived because they were vacationing in Paris and didn’t know taxes were due. Others were on a cruise and they want to argue their penalty. I think if you can be on a cruise you can pay a $10 penalty.”
Clegg is quick to say that she has seen some compelling reasons why people forget or struggle to pay their assessed property taxes. Sickness and fire are on that list. An economic crisis often causes owners to view property taxes as a low priority for their available money.
Tax Assessor Greg Garff said that landowners who neglect to pay delinquent taxes, together with the penalty by Jan.16, will then have an interest rate of 6.25 percent attached to what they owe. After five years of unpaid taxes, properties are sold.
In accordance with law, the county treasurer publishes the list of overdue taxes each year. The publication is intended to notify owner’s lenders and other interested parties in an effort to facilitate correction of errors, if any, and to assure collection from appropriate parties.
This year’s 97-page list of delinquent property taxpayers has 4,615 parcel counts owing a combined total of $1,433,195.94 and can be viewed in its entirety at www.duchesnegov.net.
TOP DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAX BILLS
Multiple properties
Duchesne Land LLC $34,235.75
Mike & Shelley Enterprises Inc. $31,526.70
Roger R. Brockbank $16,043.19
Kendall Investments LLC $15,064.84
Blockbuster Enterprises LC $14,886.63
Leavitt Gerald K. Trustee $10,449.41
Triple Net Investments Ltd. $9,769.42
Grant Tren J. $9,174.80
Mountains West Ranches $8,623.07
Emerald Marketing & Technology Inc. $7,424.14
Single properties
Development West Inc. $11,048.85
Baker Forrest S. III $9,185.67
Madsen Ralph $7,597.45
R-Rock Sand & Gravel Inc. $7,341.62
Glens Shades Diesel LLC $6,324.75
Stubbs Clifford Lee $5,608.09
Saiz Benny $4,812.62
Uzelac Michael $4,787.88
Lagoon St. LLC $4,725.99
