HCS SCS SB 893 -- DELINQUENT TAXES

SPONSOR: Quick

COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Local Government and Related Matters by a vote of 19 to 1.

This substitute requires county collectors to apply payments for property taxes against any delinquent taxes before applying the payment to taxes due in the current year. The requirement does not apply to the payment of real property taxes made by financial institutions or mortgage loan companies from escrow accounts. Under current law, proceedings to foreclose on property with delinquent property taxes must be initiated within 3 years. The substitute exempts the 3-year limitation when property that has been tax-exempt has been transferred but the instrument of the transfer has not been filed. The 3-year limitation will begin once the recording of the title has occurred.

The substitute adds marinas to the class of concession stands at Smithville Lake in Clay County that must pay into the county treasurer's park fund. The funds are to be used only for park purposes.

The substitute also changes the interest penalty for prepaid property taxes to apply only to the unpaid balance of the taxes if a payment is delinquent.

FISCAL NOTE: Not available at time of printing.

PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this bill corrects a problem for mortgage holders.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Quick; Mortgage Bankers Association of Missouri; Clay County Commission; and Missouri Association of County Collectors.

OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Steve Bauer, Legislative Analyst