Nearly 200 parcels remain on Covington County’s delinquent property tax list as of Wednesday.

The list outlines pieces of property throughout the county where owners have not paid their ad valorem tax, or property tax.

Tax officials in other counties are required by law to run a list of delinquent property owners in a newspaper before public auction. That list ran in the Fri., April 13, edition of The Star-News. The public sale is mandated by state law and will be held on May 14 at 10 a.m.

Diane Thompkins, chief clerk at the county revenue commission, said the 190 parcels on the list represent $49,721 in unpaid taxes, plus advertising costs and late fees.

“That figure really isn’t bad for this time of the year,” Thompkins said of the total. “It’s usually a bit higher.”

This time last year, $108,000 remained unpaid on the books.

The office goes to great lengths to contact owners before the list is published. Thompkins said property owners were sent two certified letters about the outstanding balance – one in March and another at the beginning of April.

“They have until 10 a.m. the morning of May 14 to pay those taxes,” Thompkins said. “We would prefer that they didn’t wait that long.”

Thompkins said no checks will be accepted as payment.

“It has to be cash or a money order,” she said. “I would recommend the owner call the office before they come, just to see exactly how much is actually owed.”

Those who do not pay will see their property sold on the courthouse steps.

On the day of sale, Thompkins said they will auction of the properties starting with the amount of taxes and interest due and they increase in increments of $20.

“The person gets a certificate of sale,” she said. “It would be three years that the people have to redeem it. The people do get a tax deed.”