Supervisor Lee Moore said he was surprised to find the property for the upcoming Dover Volunteer Fire Department included in the delinquent tax notice.
“The property for the Dover Fire Department was in the tax sale paper,” Moore said, referring to the published notice in The Yazoo Herald.
Yazoo County purchased the property on Dover Road in April of 2024 and has since incorporated the Dover Volunteer Fire Department as an individual department. But Moore said he noticed the property still listed under the name of the previous owner with a tax bill in the delinquent tax notice.
The Yazoo County Board of Supervisors said they provided additional funds with the property’s purchase to cover the previous owner’s prorated share.
“We gave him additional funds to pay the taxes,” Donna Kraft, county administrator, agreed.
“He must not have paid his prorated part,” added Supervisor Joseph Thomas Jr.
Board Attorney Jay Barbour said the property became tax exempt once it was purchased and turned over to Yazoo County.
“But (the previous owner) would still owe the taxes from Jan. 1 until whenever the county bought it,” Barbour said. “If he got additional monies to pay the prorated share of the taxes, then he must pay the prorated share of the taxes. But the property cannot be sold. It is county property. It is not eligible. But he must pay those taxes.”
County leaders said a tax bill with that prorated amount needs to be generated and sent to the previous owner for payment.
“It’s not that much money,” said Moore. “It is only about $200.”
“Send him a bill and let’s take care of this,” added Supervisor Willie Wright.
