Janesville to buy tax-foreclosed properties
Health care discussion postponed
The Janesville City Council on Monday postponed a discussion on a resolution urging Congress to pass legislation guaranteeing affordable health care for all Americans.
Yuri Rashkin, who co-sponsored the resolution, asked for postponement because he was to be absent Monday.
Rashkin is taking a college class Mondays at UW-Whitewater. He said he is working with his instructor so he only has to miss three council meetings, and Monday seemed a good one to miss because the agenda was light.
JANESVILLE — The city council voted unanimously Monday to buy three tax-foreclosed properties, something Beloit has been doing for at least five years.
The state gives the cities in which delinquent properties are located first chance at buying them. The cities' costs include the delinquent taxes—although the cities' portion is returned—and the counties' cost to foreclose.
For the three properties, the city will pay a total of $16,000.
Beloit typically buys all properties that are tax-foreclosed. The city sets aside general fund money to buy the homes, and this year that budget is $150,000, said Tom Clippert, director of housing services.
Janesville is using tax increment financing money.
Clippert said the Beloit program has been successful in its neighborhood redevelopment efforts.
Most of the tax-foreclosures in Beloit are vacant lots that often are sold back to neighbors at a nominal fee to get back them on the tax rolls, he said.
Sometimes, the properties are purchased for infill. Most homes the city buys are in such bad shape that they are torn down.
Janesville expects to tear down at least one of the homes the council purchased Monday.
Jennifer Petruzzello, Janesville's neighborhood services director, said she just looked to buy tax-foreclosed homes in the in the central city because the city could get funding through TIF.
The homes also were within areas being considered for neighborhood redevelopment, she said.
Petruzzello said she would like the city to consider next year buying tax-foreclosed properties that complement the city's redevelopment efforts.
Beloit buys every home that is tax-foreclosed, not just the ones in targeted areas, Clippert said. Last year, the city got one in "pretty good shape," he recalled. "We did a little rehab and sold it."
The profit was returned to the general fund.
"Basically, if we didn't do this, the city in the long run would have to maintain these lots anyhow," Clippert said.
He said the city is trying to be proactive in gaining control of deteriorating property.
"It's been pretty successful."
The homes that are sold must remain owner-occupied for 10 years, Clippert said.
Sep 30, 2009 at 3:52 p.m.
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Taxes in Janesville are one reason we chose to buy a home here instead of Whitewater. The water bill and taxes are a lot cheaper; however, I am still being taxed for other stuff that makes me mad.
Sep 30, 2009 at 9:40 a.m.
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Keenas4, the city simply gets the first opportunity to buy. If they don't exercise it the foreclosed property is sold at an auction on the courthouse steps.
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Normally the only buyers are the banks that mortgaged the property. But in any case, most properties do stay in private hands.
http://www.co.rock.wi.us/Dept/Sheriff/ci...
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The point of the city buying, though, is also to eventually return the property to private hands. It's right there in the article.
Sep 30, 2009 at 7:11 a.m.
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Check out the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance web page for comparison of tax levies and tax rates. Janesville has consistently been lowest or near lowest for the past 15-20 years when compared to other cities our size.
http://www.wistax.org/facts/Property%20T...
I agree taxes in general are too high. But to imply Janesville's taxes are high compared to other cities is just not truthful.
Sep 29, 2009 at 11:43 p.m.
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One Question? Is only the city allowed to buy tax forclosed propoerties or is that something that is open to the general public? If John Q Public buys the property and it is now on the tax roll would that not create income versus spending?
Sep 29, 2009 at 11:06 p.m.
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The money comes from the Tax Increment Finance district. It has to be used to make improvements within the district, by law. It does not come from the general fund and does not raise your taxes.
Sep 29, 2009 at 10:16 p.m.
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I am sick and tired of hearing about the city buying this and buying that, stop spending money. If they have all this extra money all the time pay for the new schools and all the other s&%t that they keep raising my taxes for. This city is getting to the point where I am going to tell them to kiss my a** and leave this s$#t hole behind.
Sep 29, 2009 at 8:41 p.m.
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I realize this but they sure are quick to take advantage of it.
Sep 29, 2009 at 6:38 p.m.
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huh????????
Sep 29, 2009 at 6:36 p.m.
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Inya - It's not the City's job to create happiness and wealth for it's residents - it also isn't the City's job to buy up these properties.
Sep 29, 2009 at 5:19 p.m.
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The only reason there is deteriorating property that the city can scam is cause they prey on this and not creating more for people to keep there head above water..
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