The Core City, Neighborhoods and Housing Committee on Oct. 22 recommended approval of the sale of 30 county-owned delinquent-tax parcels acquired from tax sales. Esther Sykeswood, land bank administrator, told the committee the total sales amount was $149,368.75 while the back taxes owed on those parcels totaled $250,798.19, resulting in a net negative back-tax collection of $101,429.44 across the group.

Sykeswood said two out‑of‑town buyers purchased 12 of the properties for a combined $26,200 and that the land bank’s usual process had been followed. Commissioner Brittany Thornton raised several constituent concerns about properties in her district where bidders reported that the City of Memphis had “expressed interest” and that parcels were placed on hold. She asked whether the land bank places holds absent commission authorization and requested a legal opinion on the authority and policy governing holds.

Megan Smith from the county attorney’s office said state law grants the mayor and the mayor’s administration certain discretion to manage tax‑acquired parcels and place administrative holds for specific purposes, and she said she would look into the land‑bank policies and provide follow-up. Thornton asked that commissioners be notified when holds are placed in their districts and that the legal basis be identified and shared.

Why it matters: The sale and transfer of tax‑acquired parcels affects neighborhood stability, property‑rehabilitation opportunities and tax redemption collections. Commissioners asked for greater transparency about holds and intergovernmental coordination when municipalities assert interest in county‑owned parcels.