AZ Property Tax Lien ALERTS

January 19, 2004

Prelude to Sale; Election Year Developments

The time many look forward to has nearly arrived. February is tax lien auction month in all of Arizona's 15 counties. The Maricopa County auction is scheduled to begin Monday, February 9. Tax parcel lists for the liens that will be sold will be published shortly, once in a local newspaper, and then on the Internet at the Arizona Newspapers Association website  (http://www.ananews.com/ANANews/myarticles.asp?S=251&P=473141&PubID=2616&EC=0). Investors interested in getting any county's list can usually also obtain a copy from the respective county treasurer's office. To bid, most treasurers require buyers to register in advance of the auction or post-auction sales. If you have not previously registered to bid, contact the county treasurer's office for those counties where you'd like to attend the sale. Our list of treasurers' contact information is at http://members.cox.net/manoil/Links.htm.

Exhausted by too much hype creating unrealistic expectations and plain misinformation generated by many seminar and informational products, the Maricopa County Treasurer's Office has decided to offer its own seminar, free to the public, about property tax liens in advance of February's auction. Scheduled for February 3, 2004 in the County Board of Supervisors Auditorium (where the auction will be held the following week), the hour and a half program will feature an introduction by Treasurer Todd, comments on how the system works by David Browning, Tax Office Manager, discussion of legal processes, risks and issues, by Mark Manoil, and questions and answers with the panel, including new Chief Deputy Treasurer, David Schweikert (see next story). More information about the seminar is available at http://treasurer.maricopa.gov/taxsaleclass.html. The Treasurer's website also contains answers to frequently asked questions at http://treasurer.maricopa.gov/TAXLIENSALEFAQ.asp.

Maricopa County Treasurer Doug Todd in December appointed a new Chief Deputy, David Schweikert. Mr. Schweikert comes to the Treasurer's office from the State Board of Equalization, which he chaired since 1995. The Board serves as the administrative tax court handling over 7000 valuation disputes per year.

Additionally, Mr. Schweikert's experience includes financial analysis, campaign consulting, ownership and management of a 75-agent real estate brokerage office, and four years as a state representative, first elected at age 28. His background suggests that in short order he will be one of the most knowledgeable individuals in Arizona about the property tax statutes, from assessment to levy to collection.

Shortly after his appointment as Chief Deputy, Mr. Schweikert announced that he is running for the Treasurer's job in this year's election process, and rumors indicate he may have primary opposition, but from no one with his tax knowledge and experience. Mr. Schweikert's campaign is in gear, and he looks forward to meeting constituents, particularly those with concerns about and suggestions for the Treasurer's office. He is also looking for campaign contributions up to $350 from individuals. Arizona campaign finance law prohibits corporate campaign contributions. His campaign committee, Schweikert for Treasurer, can be reached at 15749 E. El Lago, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268, phone 602-619-3330. You can also reach the campaign by email, at DavidforTreasurer@cox.net.

As we learn of other candidates for county treasurer around Arizona we will endeavor to notify you of them.

Maricopa County Press Release: http://www.maricopa.gov/pio/piopr_detail.asp?art_id=211

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