County sells woman's farm over $572 tax bill

Patriot News ^ | 11/7/03 | Diana Stricker

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

An 89-year-old woman could be evicted from her home of more than 50 years for missing one tax payment of $572 on her South Hanover Twp. property.

Helene Shue's red farmhouse and 41 acres of land along Route 39 -- about two miles from Hersheypark -- were appraised at $800,000, said her nephew, Jeff Arndt. The property was sold in September at a sheriff's sale for $15,000.

Arndt said he and his aunt were not aware that the county was seeking to recoup a portion of the 2001 taxes until an anonymous caller tipped him off Monday night.

"He told us the property had already been sold," Arndt said. "The Lord laid it on his heart to tell me about it."

Arndt has hired an attorney, and filed a legal challenge of the sale yesterday. The petition states that the taxes were paid in full every other year, including this year.

Dauphin County's tax bureau made repeated attempts to collect the 2001 payment before selling the property, said Jennifer Kocher, a county spokeswoman. Several notices were sent seeking payment, and two notices were posted on the front door of her house, Kocher said.

"There's a very strict procedure we must follow that includes 12 notifications," Kocher said. "We followed the letter of the law to a T."

The $572 owed in back taxes represents part of what is owed for 2001, Kocher said. County records confirm that Shue paid all her subsequent tax bills in full, she said.

Arndt said Shue did attempt to pay the $572 in question. But he said the check was returned with a form letter from the tax bureau explaining that the payment should be made by certified check or money order.

When asked about Arndt's claims that his aunt's check was returned, Kocher said, "He's welcome to present all these things in court."

Property owners can contest a sheriff's sale in Dauphin County Court, Kocher said. A hearing is usually scheduled a few weeks after an objection is filed.

Arndt said the property was deeded to his aunt and his uncle, Clayton, in 1948, but the county records only list the deed in his uncle's name. He said the tax bureau sent delinquent-tax notification letters addressed to his uncle, who died four years ago.

Kocher said the county began the notification process in March 2002, when three certified letters were sent to Clayton Shue. Other letters were sent this year, advising of the pending sale.

Kocher said all certified letters were returned to the bureau unopened. Letters were sent by regular mail, which were not returned, she said.

"We don't investigate who the owners of those properties are," Kocher said. "We had no way of knowing whether there was a problem on their end or whether they were ignoring it."

Written notices were twice posted on the front of the house, in September 2002 and in September 2003, Kocher said. One official posts the notices, and another is required to accompany him as a witness.

The impending sale was listed in The Patriot-News in a legal advertisement in September.

The entire Shue parcel was sold to Philip Dobson of Middle Paxton Twp., a developer, on Sept. 25, Kocher said.

Dobson said he has not been notified that the sale is being contested. "I'm just a purchaser at a public auction, and I paid my money and that's all I can say," he said.

The property is near land being developed for residential housing.

Arndt said that since his uncle died, his aunt has become reclusive and wary of strangers. Helene Shue declined to discuss the situation.

But her nephew said her only wish is to live her remaining days in the home she shared with her husband.

"Her farm means everything to her," Arndt said. "It's life and death to her. She won't move off of it. She's been offered one million bucks for it and she refused."

Arndt, who is heir to his aunt's property, said the sale was "morally and legally" flawed and that an elderly woman should not be expected to understand the legal process. He said he has tried to explain to her what has transpired. "She understands that something terrible is about to happen and that I'm going to do something about it," he said.

Arndt said he worries that other older homeowners could lose their homes in a similar fashion. "We need to make this known to the public and we need to get the legislators in on this," he said. "There are other people who have to be protected."

[cubreporter]

Why didn't they make arrangements with the woman to visit her when her nephew or someone else was there that she knew and trusted? That way they could have spoken with her instead of leaving notices on the door. Those notices probably scared the heck out of her IF she saw them at all.

This is wrong. It is highway robbery. I'm sick and tired of all the jackals out there. Now they are preying on the elderly. It's time it stopped. I hope this hits every newspaper and radio/tv show. It needs to be known. Shame on the people who are doing this. Shame on them.

Some people's homes MEAN something to them. It's where they raised their family if they had one and where they lived together and worked their butts off to make their own way on this farm.

No one... NO ONE has a right to do this to anyone much less a defenseless woman of 89 years old. I hope and pray they get to the bottom of this fiasco. Imagine an $800k farm being sold for $15k? Give me a break. They must think everyone is stupid.

I heard Sean mention something about checking on this as a caller asked him about it so I will look forward to hearing what he came up with come Monday. Thios needs to be addressed and addressed now!!!

[deport]

The question is when does the buyer get a valid title to the property? In some states the foreclosed propert that was sold for taxes allows the person who's property was sold three years or so to repay the tax lien plus interest, etc and reclaim their property. The purchaser is out his investment, if I remember correctly. I don't know how this is handled in PA or Daulphin County.

[JSteff]

It is PA. I live not far from there.

[Skywalk]

What's up with our country is that we don't really OWN our land. Why should anyone be paying money every year on the assessed value of their property?

I could see property tax going to the upkeep of the sewage, water and natural gas infrastructure. But if that were the case, you'd have a flat FEE for each home or lot, not a fee based on the value of the home.

Also, eminent domain is being used to steal people's property and then sold to some developer. The only time eminent domain should apply is when the government has to build a road or a base or something that is for GOVERNMENT use. Malls and developments do not count. That would cut out a lot of this mess.

The next would be changing prop tax laws as you suggested. I propose a flat fee, but if that is not possible, can we at least have a fixed rate for those who own their homes but no longer need to work(and they should not have to work to pay for a damn tax) ?? An age or employment cut-off? A maximum lifetime tax on a certain property limit?

[JSteff]

You are right. There is a clique around here of RE developers and government officials. The whole area is quietly corrupt with the city of Harrisburg (about 6 miles away) being the most corrupt.

[Will_Zurmacht]

Nah, they would have 'eminent domained' her first then sent in the tanks......

Just following orders, sir!

[YankeeinOkieville]

I'm not convinced all the blame should be laid on the developer and the county - although there seems to be no good intentions on their part. Please hear me out before flaming.

I wonder why, if there were indeed notices mailed and left on the door, that the nephew didn't see or know about them. I mean if his auntie is so senile or whatever that she doesn't realize what is going on and he is set to inherit it, wouldn't it make sense for him to pay closer attention. Even if the notices were sent in his uncle's name, I'm sure they get other mail addressed to him that they open. For instance perhaps a phone bill since most people of octogenarian plus generation listed phones in the male spouse's name and most phone companies would charge to change the name, it probably still arrives in deceased Mr. Shue's name. The story didn't say when the check was sent in nor when the county returned it, but why didn't the inheriting nephew spend $1 and get a money order for reclusive Aunt Helene. You bet if I was going to inherit something as valuable as this - both monetary and sentimental value - I'd sure as shootin' be watching after it.

[DB]

Hopefully Bill O'Reilly will take up the issue.

Bring some public pressure to bear...

Trash those involved with this theft.

[billhilly]

"Just following orders, sir!" Wouldn't that be, "Just following orders, ma'm?"

[MadeInOhio]

On a related note, Pennsylvania's economic woes are exacerbated by the high cost of property-ownership.

Pennsylvania residents could forbid property tax hikes without prior approval by the electorate. That would be a significant reform favoring all citizens of the Commonwealth. This major restraint on rising taxation would attract substantial commercial and industrial interest in the Keystone State, with the consequent prospect of boosted employment; of plants opening rather than shutting down.

But Pennsylvania's residents aren't yet mad enough to demand such a change, let alone any measure to reduce the size and scope of a bloated state government with reflexive regulatory impulses and a ravenous appetite for revenue.

[Norse]

Taxing people just for owning property is criminal anyway. Ban all property taxes.

[quietolong]

I see a lot of this out in the country too.
PEOPLE IF YOU DON’T LIKE COWS, STAY IN THE CITY!

[Bobby777]

I don't know for sure, but I'd sure wonder who were "friends" behind the scenes ... of course, we'll never know all of it ...

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.

Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.

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[XBob]

34-"So I went to my friendly search engine and put in:
"Dauphin County PA"


"Surprised the crap out of me!"

===
Type in your own county + forclosutes, you would be really amazed

[Dan Evans]

he said the check was returned with a form letter from the tax bureau explaining that the payment should be made by certified check or money order.

Why wouldn't the county accept a personal check? They know where she lives. It's not like she's going to grab the property and blow town. Does this make any sense?

[EternalVigilance]

One more reason that no form of direct taxation should ever be allowed in a supposedly free or allegedly civilized country. That includes both property and income taxes.

[EternalVigilance]

Property tax ultimately means that government owns your property.

Income tax means they own you.

[OldFriend]

As you saw from the article the elderly woman was becoming reclusive.

It is very difficult for folks to divulge their financial business to strangers.

Perhaps there ought to be an ombudsman in the tax office to determine the status of the owner BEFORE a sale. In this case, registered letters were returned as UNDELIVERABLE......that was the first indication that something was WRONG!!!!

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!!