Washtenaw County Treasurer Earns NACo Achievement Award

The Washtenaw County Treasurer, Catherine McClary, was awarded a 2007 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo) for her Property Tax Foreclosure Prevention Program. NACo’s annual program recognizes innovative programs which promote quality, efficiency, and responsiveness in county government.

Under Michigan law, homes, farms, and businesses with unpaid property taxes enter forfeiture in the second year of delinquency and face foreclosure in the third year. Fees assessed to delinquent property are intended to support the cost of collection. Treasurer McClary, with support of the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners, allocates a portion of this fee revenue to fund staff, outreach, public education, and prevention efforts.

Two full-time social workers, along with partner agencies and interns, work one-on-one with families to solve the problems that prevent tax payment and to connect property owners with community resources. Since the inception of the program, 6715 parcels have faced foreclosure but only 88 parcels have been sold at auction. None of the foreclosed/auctioned properties were owner-occupied homes.

Washtenaw County was one of 97 counties nationwide to be recognized. Commissioner Jessica Ping Mills will attend the award ceremony on behalf of McClary and the Board of Commissioners during NACo’s Annual Conference on July 15, 2007 in Richmond, Virginia.