Of course the major problems faced by County Treasurers include inadequate funding to carry out all of the office's required functions. However, specifically, foreclosure is never accomplished on many delinquent properties because of the cost of foreclosure proceedings. Even a small county needs the attention of a full-time assistant prosecutor for foreclosures. Because many delinquent properties are vacant lots, the current complex, expensive procedure renders collection unfeasible. Collection of taxes on oil and gas royalties is also difficult under current state law.
Information provided by oil and gas companies is often incorrect or outdated.
Current state law does not provide for enforcement of collection. Areas in which county officeholders should work together, then, include obtaining financial help for counties, provision for enforcement of taxation of oil and gas royalties or elimination of such taxation, creation of a less costly foreclosure procedure, and creation of a delinquent tax collection department to be supported by those collections. The conflicts that arise between Treasurers and Commissioners often involve the budget and personnel issues. All of us as county officeholders should become more familiar with each other's operations. This might head off some of the problems which often result from misunderstandings.