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"I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom
of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those
in power, than by violent and sudden usurpations."
- James Madison,
speech at the Virginia Constitutional Convention,
June 6th, 1788
Press Release
From: Kurt Prenzler, Madison County Treasurer
Date: January 9, 2012
On the afternoon of Friday, December 30, 2011, Madison County Treasurer Kurt Prenzler was at the front desk with employees of the Madison County Treasurer’s office. They were wondering who would be the “last” taxpayer of 2011.
At 4:29 p.m., as the doors were beginning to be locked, two young women, Jean Shorter and her niece Theresa Mumford, both of Alton, entered the Treasurer’s office, breathlessly asking “Are we too late?”
Chief Deputy Treasurer Jeremy Plank welcomed them in. He assured them that not only were they ‘on time,’ but that they were the ‘last’ taxpayers of 2011, out of approx. 270,000 Madison County residents. Ms. Shorter, a homeowner in Alton, said, “I just wanted to make sure that I paid my taxes in 2011, so I can deduct real estate taxes on my income tax return.”
Other important dates for Madison County taxpayers to remember: February 21 – 23, 2012, the scheduled dates for the tax sale.
“Taxpayers should avoid the tax sale, if at all possible,” advised Prenzler, a Certified Public Accountant.
Taxpayers whose taxes are sold at the tax sale incur well over $100 of fees and penalties. Taxpayers may check if they have unpaid taxes by visiting this link on the Treasurer's web site: http://www.madcotreasurer.org/PDFs/DelinquentFileForWebsite.pdf.
If taxpayers still have questions, they are welcome to call the Treasurer’s Office at 618-692-6260.
The tax sales held November 2007 and November 2008 produced weighted average penalty rates of 18%. Prenzler’s first sale, held February 23, 2011, reduced the weighted average penalty rate to 3.91%, with estimated savings to late taxpayers of over $2 million.
Prenzler’s tax sale policy differed from prior years in two respects:
First, Prenzler’s tax sale was automated. All tax buyers were treated equally, entering their bid by using a laptop and mouse. Using laptops and automated software encouraged low bids and eliminated the possibility of one tax buyer having an advantage over another.
Second, Prenzler has refused political donations from tax buyers.
“A tax sale should be run without favoritism and discrimination,” said Prenzler.
