Commissioners hold tax-deed auction resolution; county attorney clarifies ‘cash only’ applies to auction sales

The Butte-Silver Bow Judiciary Committee on July 23 voted to hold a proposed resolution that would authorize a tax-deed public auction and the sale of tax-deeded parcels; the auction is scheduled for Aug. 20, 2025. County Attorney Matt Enruth said the treasurer, Lori Bakerpatrick, updated the committee and asked staff to prepare a resolution to be read and considered Aug. 20.

Enruth clarified a related change described as "cash only." He said the cash-only requirement applies to buyers at the public auction, not to property owners seeking to pay delinquent taxes to avoid a sale. "It's for the sale of the property. It's not for, paying your taxes back," Enruth said, adding that the treasurer had seen cases under an old ordinance in which partial payments were made and the remainder never followed through, creating repeated foreclosure proceedings.

Committee members asked procedural questions about whether the resolution would go to full council and when; Enruth said the item would be prepared in time for committee action in August and then to move to a full council reading. The committee moved to hold the communication in advance; the motion passed 4 to 0.

No property list was presented at the committee meeting beyond a comment that about two parcels probably would reach the auction. The treasurer will provide the final list and the draft resolution for committee review before the August meeting.