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Escambia County Working To Force People Out Of This Century Home
April 26, 2021
Escambia County working for force people out of a home in Century.
The property a 511 Hecker Road escheated to the county in January, becoming county property after taxes were not paid for seven years.
The total amount owed as of January was $22,516.71, according to Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford. The taxes were owed by joint property owners Shawanda Newton, Latoya Redmond, Lalita Simpson, Earwin Newton and Amber Redmond, according to the tax deed.
Lunsford said no one ever purchased a tax certificate on the property to give them claim to the property, so it escheated to Escambia County. That zeroed out the taxes due.
According to Escambia County Code Enforcement, unidentified persons have continued to live in the home even though it has been county property for nearly four months.
The Escambia County Commission has now voted to authorize the County Attorney’s Office to take necessary action for the removal of the occupants and any abandoned property or vehicles.
County Attorney Alison Rogers said the process would begin with letters and could eventually move to a court proceeding to eject (similar to evicting) the occupants. Rogers said the county is seldom required to eject people from a home.
Escambia County will likely sell the property at public action once the occupants are removed.
Comments
70 Responses to “Escambia County Working To Force People Out Of This Century Home”
REGARDING:
“So, I buy my house outright. I own it, and somehow the gov can tax me for property I ALREADY OWN, or they get to steal it from me? And if I refuse to be stolen from, then men with guns will show up and throw me out of the home I BOUGHT AND PAID FOR? If I resist being thrown out of my own property, I violence will be used against me?”
“Do I have all that correct?”
Yep. Other than the mistaken impression that you own it just because you have a deed. The government certifies that deed or at least keeps the record of it showing you as the owner, subject to restrictions the government may place on you. They have always reserved the power to take it away from you with just compensation.
As long as you comply and they don’t want your property, they protect you from wandering hordes who might otherwise take it and kill you and your family. It’s a trade-off.
They also have the power to tax you and to enforce payment of those taxes.
You take the bad with the good.
David for reality
So, I buy my house outright. I own it, and somehow the gov can tax me for property I ALREADY OWN, or they get to steal it from me? And if I refuse to be stolen from, then men with guns will show up and throw me out of the home I BOUGHT AND PAID FOR? If I resist being thrown out of my own property, I violence will be used against me?
Do I have all that correct? And everybody else is ok with this why???
Land of the free, huh? Yea, I feel real free about now
What would Jesus do?
Pay his taxes.
“Render unto Caesar” you know. Matthew 22:21
>>”I went on tax collectors website and according to it they paid taxes on it and it is on homestead exemption so how could they sell it I would get a lawyer and fight it”
The taxes were not paid, like the story says. It status shows paid because when the county took the property, they are tax exempt. That wiped out the previous tax bills since it’s now county owned. That zeroed out the previous tax bills.
I went on tax collectors website and according to it they paid taxes on it and it is on homestead exemption so how could they sell it I would get a lawyer and fight it I hope the family can work it out so they can keep their home
What would Jesus do?
The question I have is; how could seven years of tax be $22,000? If the owners had just recorded the property in one owner’s name, they probably could have filed for homestead exemption and had no taxes. They did not, and the deal is done so they need to vacate the property so the county can dispose of it.
As much as I abhor property taxation, which could be eliminated entirely by Fair Tax, we need to require public listing of properties with unpaid taxes that are more than 6 months late. That way the community can help unsure the elderly, disabled, or simply ignorant are cared for by the community.
Property tax = is, Extortion!
“I really hope they don’t lose their home,”
Read again. They’ve already lost it. Now they have to get out.
I really hope they don’t lose their home, that their mother worked so hard to obtain. Y’all please don’t get on here and speak negatively about this situation. Life happens and sometimes we don’t understand all the ends and outs of something that we inherited (while we were children). I hope this is something that the city is willing to compromise and work out. A little understanding goes a long way.
Paying your taxes is part of owning property, nothing confusing about it. Escambia county Needs to move forward with vacating the house PERIOD.
This whole situation is just sad.
I’m sure there’s a lot of background issues that needed to be dealt with. It kills me that the government can just come take what you worked for. Isn’t that why we left England?
Home the current residents find a good place to go.
@Resident…..I think you missed the context of my comment. Good jobs have been scarce in Century for years. The county COULD open extension offices for various departments in the north end of the county. They have the power to help bring good paying jobs to Century and give people a means to pay their taxes.
“Just my personal observation, if the county would place some satellite offices at the north end of the county, people might be able to work and pay their property tax”
There are tens of thousands of satellite offices in the north end of the county where property taxes can be paid. They are called mailboxes. Write a check, buy a money order and stick a stamp on it. Very convenient.
And you can even pay online.
No excuse in 7 years.
Just my personal observation, if the county would place some satellite offices at the north end of the county, people might be able to work and pay their property tax. The county knows that Century desperately needs more places of employment. They have had the power to help and have turned their back on the citizens of Century. The county could have bought the helicopter building and made a road crew satellite office out of it. They have their hand out to take from the good folks in Century, but they withhold their hand from lending a hand up to a needy people within the county. “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.”
The people living there may not know about the taxes owed on the property. If people inherite a property they may not know about taxes but after 7 years it would be hard to play stupid. If people don’t pay the taxes the taxing authorities will add penalties and interest. The longer you don’t pay the more interest they add.
This is nothing a little push with a D6 Caterpillar won’t fix. Just sayin’
A quick observation…….Dish on roof,fairly new vehicle out back,& newer vehicle in front yard……..
As crazy as this story is if you don’t know what you’re talking about you should probably keep your judgement to yourself all the siblings don’t live in this home only 1 lives there others are out of state Very sweet lady doesn’t bother anyone . Stays to herself is hard working from what I know But there is a mid 40yr old poker playing sorry man that lives there as well I can’t tell how many times I seen that same truck run up and down 29 family should come together for the funds and then physically throw him out of this home please. I guarantee he is the weed of that beautiful garden
Remember the Golden Rule…..He who has the Gold, makes the rules!
It seems that once you buy your house and pay the taxes when you buy especially after so many years…..that should be the end of property taxes. Paid in full…One never owns property….
@ William Lingo
There is no sales tax on real property in the state of Florida
“Real Property is the land and the “fixtures” permanently attached to the land, like a house, air conditioning condenser or in-ground pool. Personal Property is everything else that isn’t Real Property.”
Don’t understand why people care more about this than the owners, that maybe the problem.
Hold on, sounds like they were “squatting”.
I wonder why so many of you are hating on these people. How many of you have they asked to help them pay the taxes. So many of you seem pleased that this has happened.
C’mon, now. All those notices that came in the mail stating PROPERTY TAX DUE and PROPERTY SEIZURE DUE TO NON-PAYMENT required some action be taken on their part. Probably shouldn’t have ignored all those warnings, but they figured let’s see how long we can stay before the party’s over. If it has been county-owned since January, why are there still people in that structure? It’s called “squatting”.
Did the tax bill came to the address, as well as other notices. Most likely.
If a bill comes in the mail and one doesn’t pay it, then they can figure out it came to the address for a reason.
Some people have to learn the hard way.
If there are other properties in Century like this, this might be a wake up call. Apparently the government is looking over the tax rolls — that is how they fund themself.
Legal services of NWF came it to help straighten out title work after the tornado to allow people to qualify for the SHIP and CDBG.
Property taxes run schools, police, fire, roads and some utilities.
“You never, ever “own” your property. Even after the mortgage is paid, you still have to pay your rent to the government, or get kicked out.”
You’re not paying RENT! You’re paying for schools and teachers, police and fire fighters, community assistance, EMTs, all those things that make our community a better place to live in. Would you prefer your house burn to the ground? What about the next time you fall off a roof or your child turns up missing, who are your planning on calling? It won’t be any of the above because they need jobs that pay and they get paid through property taxes
If the occupants desire to live there they can bid on the property at the auction and have a chance to own it — move back in, then pay taxes.
Majority of the children that inherited the home were minor at the time. The mother was killed in a car accident. Do you incentive people think that maybe the children did not know or understand that property taxes had to paid on the home? The mother probably did not have time to explain to her babies about the property tax. So all of you should be ashamed of yourself. At the end of the day the children had to grow up fast with no guidance from there mom. So please shut up talking to them about paying taxes. Earwin and Shawanda were teenagers when there mom past. The others were minor. Ms. Gloria(the mother) was a sweet, hard working Christian lady, that I will forever be grateful to have meet her.
Thank you
Why is it that when we but a soda, gas or other items we pay one tax at the time of purchase, but we pay taxes on property year after year and at the time we purchase said property? Seems to me that is exactly the kind of taxation went went to war to end all those years ago.
I hope the county first looks into the situation fully. The last thing this county needs is another displaced family – especially if it turns out to not be their mistake
@Craig – “Taxation is theft. Armed robbery.”
Without taxation, Craig, you’d have none of the following:
Roads/bridges
Police/Sheriff
Schools
Firefighters
Social Security/Medicare/Medicaid
The Military
Libraries
NASA
I could go on and on, but I think you get the picture. Collectively, we pay taxes to provide those services we could not afford individually.
Wonder if the tenants been paying rent to someone. Thought the Feds had a stop evictions till June 15?
I am a single mother receiving zero child support and working two jobs. I still have to pay taxes or my house will be taken away long before I owe $22k. Must be my “privileged” life.
These are the folks who just had the amazingly , super extravagant gender reveal ? That money Could’ve went towards the taxes . We see where their mind is at . See what kind of people they are . Take care of IMPORTANT business first . Things families should always wanna keep when things are left to them . Thats valuable ! Not reveals , Dora wigs , makeup and whatever else that doesn’t make sense .
The funds still out there at Lakestone ! PAY pay pay ! Can’t be big timers not paying taxes Saweetie .
Took the funds to Texas maybe ? Didn’t think about your taxes maybe ? Your priorities are in order maybe ? Or makeup ? Tell me , tell me what y’all did with $32 a year split between five ? Gender reveal for the minor ? Baby shower ? Dora wigs ? Nails ? But not once did y’all think to keep this property ??? How sway !
Be careful who y’all laugh at next time since y’all were so weak at your feet ……
Another case of wanting all the benefits that our taxes pay for, but not wanting to pay themselves. I could WISH my taxes were that low! Our property tax in in the mid $2000 range and we live in Molino. The small amount these people had to pay makes it sad, but inexcusable that the taxes weren’t paid on this property. It’s a matter of priorities. Work and bills first, pleasure and play second. Wants and needs.
Pay your taxes!
Thank you Melanie for taking the time to look up what the property taxes amounted to each year. Underprivileged or not – everybody can come up with $30 or &40 a month to pay for housing.
I really hope they get together as a family and pay taxes, I’am sure they have no probably throwing another under privilege family out on the street, and it’s not Uncle Sam it was President Abraham Lincoln, which is the price of freedom, it’s not free
Pay your taxes before you spend money on frivolous things like baby showers, folks!
Wait ! What ? 22k and some change ? We’re not joking about PPP loans this week huh . Should’ve joined the force and got a couple thousands too Miss. Mamas!
So this info provided below by $$! shows me they obviously they did not care to keep the property. If 5 owners are unable/unwilling to come up with either $338 ($67.60 each per year) or $125 ($25.00 each per year). Unfortunately if they did eventually decide they wanted to keep the property the late fees levied by the county made that impossible. But I can’t blame the county. If I didn’t pay my property taxes they would impose fees on my property as well. Multiple notices stating exactly how much is owed and the amount increases the longer it takes to pay. I would try to save a little face and move before I was ejected.
Thanks $$! for looking up the info!
Taxes estimated at $338/year through 2017 and $125/year in 2018?!
Shawanda,Lalita,Latoya,Earwin & Amber
TEY JESUS,NOT THE COUNTY,CAUSE THEY TAKE PROPERTY
Wow! Had my daughter a baby shower last week , but I bet I paid my taxes before I did that ! Applied for a PPP loan , but I paid my taxes with that ! I can’t live for free that long so how’d they manage between 5 people ? Call me water head cause it’s full of water !
Same people who had jokes about people getting PPP loans . Seem like they should get one and pay those taxes . Those thousands could’ve saved the property !
I immediately thought the same thing: the amount owed is way off. What were the original taxes each year?
How much for taxes on baby showers ? Probably more than taxes on this split between 4 citizens . Oooopalooooopa
No PPP jokes now huh . How can you not pay taxes when it’s could’ve been split between 4 people ? I pay taxes so should they . Baby showers, trips , clothes and shoes take money and so does taxes . It’s not fair to us here in century to live for the free!!!
Taxation is theft. Armed robbery.
Heir Property; all of the owners want a piece of it but nobody wants to pay the taxes. I feel that whoever is living on the property should pay the taxes.
Aren’t these the people that had an extravagant gender reveal the other week”
should have gotten a loan from the city.
tax was less than ONE DOLLAR a day
I wonder if they got free gas from Century as well…..
“Maybe the community could have come together to help pay it”. Why? Personal responsibility for a debt is not the communities concern. $388.00 a year comes to $32.00 a month. Thats way less per month than their iphone or smart phone bl, which I’m sure they are faithful to pay. Give me a break!
If the taxes are owed, they should be paid! Do I get a pass on MY taxes? NO! Do I get power if I don’t pay my power bill? NO! Do I get water if I don’t pay the water bill? NO What makes them so special? Kick them out!
Many times in cases like this the home belonged to an elderly person that died, and the heirs don’t understand to pay the taxes, or don’t care.
You never, ever “own” your property. Even after the mortgage is paid, you still have to pay your rent to the government, or get kicked out.
I pay my taxes every year…….ever since 1971 when I moved here….That’s a lot of money over the years and I sure wish the government would stop property taxes and get money from adding a few cents to purchases…there would be a lot more folks paying and probably more money would be there with everyone purchasing stuff.
No matter how you look at it…we all have to pay our property tax. Surely between 5 people, they could’ve paid the tax owed. Sounds cheaper than rent! No one lives anywhere for free!
Ok, so everyone else pays property taxes but they should get a free pass? I think not. Enjoy your paved/marked roads and public schools? Pay your taxes. Enjoy street lighting and traffic signals? Pay your taxes. Calling 911 and need emergency medical help or emergency police help? Pay your taxes. It’s not rocket science folks. You get the basics if everyone pays their taxes. Property taxes are the most represented tax. You are it daily with FRIE/EMS AND police.
Dave – registered Democrat
I’m sure most was penalties and court cost to get the ball rolling, there was four owners of this property and no one could pay the taxes? I wonder if rent was being collected or not? I’m sure the taxes was going that much , but not being paid for in 7 years by four people, hmmmm.
i hate taxes. i have to pay em. if others don’t pay theirs my taxes go up. either pay the taxes or get out. right now they are vagrants, bums, tax cheats. if they don’t pay theirs others will do the same.
$22,516.71 in property taxes over 7 years for a property, that I looked up and is said to be valued at around $35k, with taxes estimated at $338/year through 2017 and $125/year in 2018?!
Perhaps their math is off, or those are some hellacious penalties!!
Damn, I feel like if this went public before the County got it, that maybe the community would have helped raise funds to pay it. But, again, $22k? For some, myself included, that might as well be a million if they expected it in a lump sum. Don’t know many who have that lying around. Guess it’s done now though. County “owns” it and will probably sell it. Money comes first, don’t ya know? =(
Good ol uncle sam wants his money, god bless america and the good ol american way
Death and Taxes.