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They told them based on the most recent address of the contact on record. Why should it be the responsibility of the tax collector to make sure this is up-to-da

They told them based on the most recent address of the contact on record. Why should it be the responsibility of the tax collector to make sure this is up-to-date and accurate?

harryh 9y ago
Because the government exists to serve the people, not to rigidly enforce laws like a mindless automaton no matter the consequences.
- ryanackley 9y ago
  I agree but what are the extenuating circumstances in this case? Was the person responsible off serving in the Armed Forces so they didn't get the notice? Nope, actually it sounds like someone forgot to change their address seventeen years ago. How hard is this to take care of? Or hey, even for someone in the HOA to notice they haven't been getting a tax bill for the last 17 years.
  - harryh 9y ago
    The extenuating circumstance is that it's obvious to anyone that this was a clerical mistake not an inability or unwillingness to pay the bill. People shouldn't forfeit their property without warning because of clerical mistakes.
    - ryanackley 9y ago
      Sorry I don't agree. The situation was one of the HOA's own making. The tax collector didn't make the mistake, the HOA did. That's how life works for most people. There are consequences for making mistakes. Also, with regard to there being "no warning". Why wouldn't there be an assumption by the HOA that they owed taxes even though they weren't receiving a bill?
      - harryh 9y ago
        You can obviously believe whatever you want, but if you think that the consequences of failing to properly file a change of address form and then forgetting about a $14 annual bill should be that dire, that's pretty extreme. What do you think the penalty for littering should be? The death penalty?
        ajurna 9y ago
        The article did say it was a $14 Million Dollar tax bill.
        harryh 9y ago
        I think you misread it. The annual bill was $14, not $14 million.
        ryanackley 9y ago
        The practical effect of the penalty is relative to a person's ability to handle it. Wealthy people having to pay their way out of an awkward situation caused by their own irresponsibility? I don't know the means of these people but based on where they live, it amounts to the equivalent of a speeding ticket. Keep in mind, they aren't the only victims of their irresponsibility now. They have had to create this narrative of a bottom feeding couple trying to cheat them out of their street. It's character assassination and it's another reason not to feel sorry for them.
        harryh 9y ago
        We don't asses penalties in this country based on the resources of the perpetrator. All are equal before the law (at least that is the aspiration. we obviously fall short in many instances.). And besides, your idea is non sensical. We should confiscate their property knowing that they have the resources to get it back in order to induce some higher lawyer fees and a pain-in-the-ass factor as some kind of penalty increase? That's bizarre! That's not how government should work at all! It ends up being a waste of time and resources for a lot of people and, as you mention, draws in innocent 3rd parties who end up taking some of the heat. If we actually wanted a higher penalty for richer people than there should just be a bigger fine or late fee.
torstenvl 9y ago
Because it's always the responsibility of the tax collector? Because the government is the least cost avoider? I used to work for a title search company that contracted with counties within that state to handle tax foreclosure. In order to foreclose on property for delinquent taxes, certified mail had to be sent to the most recent known address, the delinquency had to be published in a local paper, and a notice had to be posted on the property itself. I believe this is more-or-less the norm.
- ryanackley 9y ago
  I don't think it's the norm because it doesn't sound like most of these things happened in this case. Also, I've participated as a bidder in one auction where I live in FL. There was no notice posted on the property. I don't know if the other things happened.
  - torstenvl 9y ago
    By the time it goes to auction it's already been foreclosed on.
    - ryanackley 9y ago
      It's way different where I live. There is no foreclosure before the tax deed auction.

They told them based on the most recent address of the contact on record. Why should it be the responsibility of the tax collector to make sure this is up-to-date and accurate?

harryh 9y ago

Because the government exists to serve the people, not to rigidly enforce laws like a mindless automaton no matter the consequences.

ryanackley 9y ago
I agree but what are the extenuating circumstances in this case? Was the person responsible off serving in the Armed Forces so they didn't get the notice? Nope, actually it sounds like someone forgot to change their address seventeen years ago. How hard is this to take care of? Or hey, even for someone in the HOA to notice they haven't been getting a tax bill for the last 17 years.
- harryh 9y ago
  The extenuating circumstance is that it's obvious to anyone that this was a clerical mistake not an inability or unwillingness to pay the bill. People shouldn't forfeit their property without warning because of clerical mistakes.
  - ryanackley 9y ago
    Sorry I don't agree. The situation was one of the HOA's own making. The tax collector didn't make the mistake, the HOA did. That's how life works for most people. There are consequences for making mistakes. Also, with regard to there being "no warning". Why wouldn't there be an assumption by the HOA that they owed taxes even though they weren't receiving a bill?
    - harryh 9y ago
      You can obviously believe whatever you want, but if you think that the consequences of failing to properly file a change of address form and then forgetting about a $14 annual bill should be that dire, that's pretty extreme. What do you think the penalty for littering should be? The death penalty?
      - ajurna 9y ago
        The article did say it was a $14 Million Dollar tax bill.
        harryh 9y ago
        I think you misread it. The annual bill was $14, not $14 million.
      - ryanackley 9y ago
        The practical effect of the penalty is relative to a person's ability to handle it. Wealthy people having to pay their way out of an awkward situation caused by their own irresponsibility? I don't know the means of these people but based on where they live, it amounts to the equivalent of a speeding ticket. Keep in mind, they aren't the only victims of their irresponsibility now. They have had to create this narrative of a bottom feeding couple trying to cheat them out of their street. It's character assassination and it's another reason not to feel sorry for them.
        harryh 9y ago
        We don't asses penalties in this country based on the resources of the perpetrator. All are equal before the law (at least that is the aspiration. we obviously fall short in many instances.). And besides, your idea is non sensical. We should confiscate their property knowing that they have the resources to get it back in order to induce some higher lawyer fees and a pain-in-the-ass factor as some kind of penalty increase? That's bizarre! That's not how government should work at all! It ends up being a waste of time and resources for a lot of people and, as you mention, draws in innocent 3rd parties who end up taking some of the heat. If we actually wanted a higher penalty for richer people than there should just be a bigger fine or late fee.

torstenvl 9y ago

Because it's always the responsibility of the tax collector? Because the government is the least cost avoider? I used to work for a title search company that contracted with counties within that state to handle tax foreclosure. In order to foreclose on property for delinquent taxes, certified mail had to be sent to the most recent known address, the delinquency had to be published in a local paper, and a notice had to be posted on the property itself. I believe this is more-or-less the norm.

ryanackley 9y ago
I don't think it's the norm because it doesn't sound like most of these things happened in this case. Also, I've participated as a bidder in one auction where I live in FL. There was no notice posted on the property. I don't know if the other things happened.
- torstenvl 9y ago
  By the time it goes to auction it's already been foreclosed on.
  - ryanackley 9y ago
    It's way different where I live. There is no foreclosure before the tax deed auction.