Erie County is pushing back against property owners who won't pay their taxes. The county is taking the first step by holding a special auction of 50 properties with lengthy histories of unpaid taxes.
The county says it's an experiment. That's from Real Property Tax Services Director Joseph Maciejewski who says some people just game the system and file for bankruptcy or make a deal to pay taxes over time and don't.
Backed by County Executive Poloncarz, 50 properties have been picked out of 500 long-time no-pays and set up for a February 23 auction.
"It's those who haven't made the payments, those that file bankruptcy, we call them serial filers," Maciejewski said.
"What I find incredible is that somebody who actually went across the street, sat in front of a judge with an attorney, the judge ordered a payment plan and we did not see one penny."
There's an East Aurora bar which owes $250,000. The State Liquor Authority just revoked its license for other reasons. Erie County pays local and school district taxes which property owners don't pay and tries to get the money back through auctions, meaning those who pay their taxes have a little bit of their payments make up for those who won't pay.
