By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
City council members have approved the sale of four south Del Rio properties lost by their owners for non-payment of local taxes.
The council approved resolutions approving the sales of the four properties during their Feb. 25 regular meeting.
The first resolution dealt with a property at 407 W. Bean St.
According to the text of the resolution, the property was previously “struck off” for “delinquent ad valorem taxes owed to Val Verde County, San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District and City of Del Rio.”
and lot at 305 E. Ogden St. (Photo by Karen Gleason)
Councilman Randy Quiñones made the motion to approve the sale, with Mayor Pro-tem Jim DeReus giving the second.
Mayor Al Arreola asked if there were any questions for the city’s contracted delinquent tax attorney with the firm, Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP, of San Antonio, and hearing none, called for the vote.
Quiñones’ motion was unanimously approved.
Documentation given to the council shows a tax suit was filed against the owner of the property, identified as Roberto Lee Zuniga, in state district court, “resulting in the tax foreclosure of the above-described property.”
The property was sold by sealed bid to Cecilia Chavira for $1,000. According to documentation presented by the city’s delinquent tax attorneys, the property’s current appraised value is $51,692, with total taxes due as of February of $9,629.25.
The second resolution approved the sale of a property at 305 E. Ogden St.
Quiñones again made the motion to approve the resolution, with Councilwoman Ernestina “Tina” Martinez giving the second.
Council members again had no questions, and Quiñones’ motion was approved unanimously.
Documentation provided to the council shows a tax suit was filed against the owner of the property, identified as Manuela Gutierrez, in state district court, “resulting in the tax foreclosure of the above-described property.” Again, the suit was for non-payment of county, city and school district property taxes.
The property was sold by sealed bid to Gregorio Flores Jr. for $8,000. According to documentation presented by the city’s delinquent tax attorneys, the property’s current appraised value is $67,713. Total taxes due on the property as of February were $48,963.30.
The third resolution approved the sale of a property at 304 W. Bowie St.
Councilman J.P. Sanchez made the motion to approve the resolution, with Councilwoman Carmen Gutierrez giving the second.
There were no questions, and council members unanimously approved Sanchez’s motion.
Documentation provided to the council shows a tax suit, for non-payment of county, city and school district property taxes, was filed against the owner of the property, identified as Antonio Arreola, in state district court, “resulting in the tax foreclosure of the above-described property.”
The property was sold by sealed bid to Oscar Rodriguez for $2,000. According to documentation presented by the city’s delinquent tax attorneys, the property’s current appraised value is $13,695. Total taxes due on the property as of February are $3,060.35.
The fourth resolution approved the sale of a property at 605 W. Gutierrez St.
DeReus made the motion to approve the resolution, with Sanchez giving the second.
The council voted unanimously to approve DeReus’ motion, then Sanchez asked to make a comment.
Sanchez said, “I think this is awesome, and it’s great. We need to get these properties back on the tax rolls so we can start collecting taxes on them. Yes, we’re not making much in money (from the property sales), but we’ll make money in the future on the property taxes that will be coming forward, so that’s awesome.”
Documentation provided to the council regarding the fourth property shows a tax suit was filed against the owner of the property, identified as Andres Porras, in state district court, “resulting in the tax foreclosure of the above-described property,” for non-payment of county, city and school district property taxes.
The property was sold by sealed bid to Jose M. Rivera for $10,000. According to documentation presented by the city’s delinquent tax attorneys, the property’s current appraised value is $29,005. Total taxes due on the property as of February are $39,072.93.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com.
