Watson: The Untold Stories of Tax-Forfeited Lands
Note: The following opinion-editorial column was written by Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson. Opinions expressed are that of the author and not necessarily that of this publication.
By Michael Watson
It is no surprise the greater Jackson area has its fair share of dilapidated properties. As the State Land Commissioner, our office’s ultimate goal is to return these tax-forfeited lands (TFL) back to private ownership, while obtaining optimal price for the properties, so they may once again produce revenues to the respective taxing authorities. Through these efforts, we have seen tremendous success—so much so our current state-owned roll sits right at 7,000 parcels, down from about 20,000 in 2015.
Despite our team’s successes, with Hinds County comprising nearly 30% of all TFL, the narrative is controlled by the insurmountable scrutiny of dilapidated properties. While we don’t pretend to turn our heads at the issues facing the City of Jackson and Hinds County, it is important to not allow the negative to overshadow the positive gains.
Further, we’d be remiss to not highlight a few unsung heroes within the City of Jackson who have forged tremendous partnerships with our team and gone above and beyond to assist Jackson residents.
Jackson only has three Code Enforcement Officers who serve as boots on the ground within the city limits and have adopted the mantra “service above self.” While they are incredibly understaffed, I recently learned of their actions to assist an elderly resident and thought it worthy of sharing my public appreciation.
After failed attempts to contact the city, our office received a call from the aforementioned resident who politely conveyed her disdain for an unkept adjacent property. The property was sold by our office a year ago to an out-of-state business group who allegedly allowed the property’s condition to decline.
Rather than pointing her back to the city, and even though this was not state-owned land, our Director of Tax-Forfeited Lands, Ty Hickman, quickly reached out to the Code Enforcement Officers to inquire as to whether any action may be taken. One officer, Robert Brunson, quickly traveled to the property, spoke with the resident, contacted the property owner, and provided the owner with a deadline for cleanup. Additionally, Brunson left his business card with the resident should she have any further issues.
This is just one of the many occasions in which they have assisted Jacksonians, or shall I say Mississippians, and we are grateful for their service. Let this be a reminder to us all there is always a positive message hiding somewhere in the weeds. Whether we are a Code Enforcement Officer, teacher, janitor, or statewide elected official, we can always find someone to help or give just a little bit of hope—just like Ty, who took the extra time to make the call.
In closing, I encourage you to review the tax-forfeited inventory on our website. These properties may be purchased by individuals, corporations, and state agencies. When they are purchased, in addition to being returned to productive use on the local tax rolls, the chancery clerk, sheriff, county, municipality, and school district all receive proceeds from the sale.
Should you have questions or require assistance regarding tax-forfeited properties, I urge you to contact Ty and his team at (601) 359-5156. They stand ready and willing to serve!
