New laws allow Miss. cities to get rid of abandoned property

The Associated Press

 

JACKSON, Miss. --

Two new state laws relax the rules local governments in Mississippi use to get rid of abandoned property.

 

Both laws took effect July 1.

One law allows cities to sell or lease property taken for tax delinquencies or declared blighted for less than market value. Another law allows counties to sell or lease blighted property to private developers for less than fair market value.

"It gives us leeway to sell it for $1 or give it away," said Jimmy Heidel, an economic development consultant for Jackson.

Sen. John Horhn, D-Jackson, said the laws give local governments an incentive for developers and a chance to return abandoned land to the tax rolls.

Before the new laws, cities and counties could only give land for less than fair market value to churches and nonprofits, Horhn said.

"More often than not, churches and nonprofits are not the ones doing the major development," said Horhn, who sees areas of west Jackson and downtown benefiting.

Under previous law, selling blighted property was difficult, and interested developers had no guarantee they would be the winning bid. Local governments took the average value of three appraisals, and advertised the sale in the newspaper, Heidel said.

Heidel wants the new laws to spur affordable housing developments, especially neighborhoods for middle-class families.

The new laws are good incentives for redevelopment as long as the policy is not abused, said Jackson developer and attorney David Watkins.

"If you want this as a political spoils system, it's inappropriate," he said.

Cities and counties acquire property when owners stop paying taxes, and no one buys the lot at a tax sale, said Rep. John Reeves, R-Jackson. He sponsored House Bill 1150 giving cities such authority.

Often properties are packed with liens from unpaid taxes and cleaning blighted lots make the price undesirable for investors, he said. The new laws allow those liens to be forgiven.

 

Mississippi Legislature
2007 Regular Session

 

House Bill 1150

Main Menu

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Bill Text

History of Actions

Amendments

Background

Title

Description: Municipalities; authorize to handle grants and to convey municipal real property under certain circumstances without appraisal notice, bid or consideration.

Bill Text: [Introduced] [Passed House] [Sent to Governor]

History of Actions:

 

1		01/15 (H) Referred To Municipalities
2		01/30 (H) Title Suff Do Pass
3		02/06 (H) Passed   {Vote}
4		02/06 (H) Motion to Reconsider Entered
5		02/09 (H) Reconsidered
6		02/09 (H) Amended
7		02/09 (H) Passed As Amended   {Vote}
8		02/14 (H) Transmitted To Senate
9		02/14 (S) Referred To Municipalities
10		02/21 (S) Title Suff Do Pass
11		03/05 (S) Amended
12		03/05 (S) Passed As Amended   {Vote}
13		03/07 (S) Returned For Concurrence
14		03/13 (H) Decline to Concur/Invite Conf
15		03/14 (H) Conferees Named Robinson (63rd),Myers,Mayo
16		03/19 (S) Conferees Named Michel,Frazier,Flowers
17		03/25 (H) Conference Report Filed
18		03/25 (S) Conference Report Filed
19		03/26 (H) Recommitted For Further Conf
20		03/26 (S) Recommitted For Further Conf
21		03/26 (H) Conference Report Filed
22		03/26 (S) Conference Report Filed
23		03/27 (H) Conference Report Adopted   {Vote}
24		03/27 (S) Conference Report Adopted   {Vote}
25		04/03 (H) Enrolled Bill Signed
26		04/04 (S) Enrolled Bill Signed
27		04/18 Approved by Governor

 

Amendments/Conference Report:

 

Adopted	[H]	Amendment No 1   Voice Vote
Adopted	[H]	Amendment No 2   Voice Vote
Adopted	[S]	Amendment No 1   Voice Vote
	[S]	Amendment Report for House Bill No. 1150

 

 

Conference Report

Conference Report # 2

 

Background Information:

 

Effective date		July 1, 2007
Disposition		Law
Deadline		General Bill/Constitutional Amendment
Revenue		No
Vote type required		Two/Thirds
Chapter number		538

 

House Committee:

 

• Municipalities

 

Senate Committee:

 

• Municipalities

 

Principal Author: Reeves

Code Section: A 021-0017-0001

Title: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 21-17-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE A MUNICIPALITY TO LEASE OR OTHERWISE CONVEY SURPLUS PROPERTY LOCATED IN A BLIGHTED AREA, WITH OR WITHOUT CONSIDERATION, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS; TO AUTHORIZE MUNICIPALITIES TO DIVIDE AND GIVE AWAY LOTS THAT ARE 25 FEET OR LESS TO ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNERS IF CERTAIN CONDITIONS ARE MET; TO AUTHORIZE ANY MUNICIPALITY TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS AND CONTRACTS AND TO PROVIDE AND DELIVER ANY SERVICES OR ASSISTANCE AND TO AUTHORIZE ANY MUNICIPALITY TO RECEIVE, EXPEND AND ADMINISTER ANY GRANTS, GIFTS, MATCHING FUNDS, LOANS OR OTHER MONIES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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Information pertaining to this measure was last updated on 05/15/07 at 07:52.

End Of Document
2007/html/History/HB/HB1150.htm