After a two-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Barton County Tax Sale will return this year. The event is set for 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11 at the Great Bend Events Center, 3111 10th St., with registration starting at 8 a.m.

“After a two-year break, we’re going to start it back up again,” County Treasurer Jim Jordan said. Pictures of the properties currently on the sale can be seen on the county’s website bartoncounty.org, under the “2022 Tax Sale” tab at the top of the page.

Jordan was a little concerned early on how missing two years because of the pandemic would impact the number of tracts on the auction block.  Currently, there are are around 70 properties listed for the sale, which is a bit higher than in pasts years at this point.

But Jordan expects several of those to be paid and cleared by sale time. “Maybe we’ll be about the same we’ve been before.”

Owners have until noon Friday to redeem their properties, he said. A final listing of what will be sold will be available Monday, Oct. 10.

In the mean time, his office has been working out payment plans with delinquent property owners.

To avoid having a property sold at auction, owners must pay all taxes. There is also a redemption fee of $170, court costs, abstracting fee and interest.

The money generated by the sale goes first to pay the back taxes. Anything left over would go into the county’s general fund, Jordan said.

The commission approved a resolution authorizing the sale in January, allowing specified tracts of real estate be sold for back taxes. It also authorizes the necessary abstract work be done to prepare for the sale. 

The Treasurer’s Office is located in Room 208 at the Barton County Courthouse, 1400 Main in Great Bend. It can be reached at 620-793-1831.