15,000-plus haven’t paid property taxes

Sunday, Aug. 12, 2007 | 7:38 a.m.

The adage has it that death and taxes are the only certain things in life.

Some people, however, try to skip the taxes part.

The first installments of 2007-2008 property tax bills are due this month for all of the more than 700,000 parcels of real estate in Clark County. A total of more than $2 billion has been levied.

The tax rates - as much as $1.18 on every $1,000 of assessed value - are modest compared with those elsewhere in the country.

But in anti-tax Nevada, no matter how low the rates, people will complain. And some simply won't pay.

Clark County is owed more than $19 million by 15,293 property owners who have not paid their taxes.

That figure - less than 1 percent of the $5 billion in property taxes levied by the county since 2004 - has no serious effect on the county budget. However, it has caused headaches in the county treasurer's office.

The county has placed deeds on 398 parcels, with a total of more than $1.2 million in delinquent taxes. Those numbers stem from cases of property owners who really, really don't want to pay, or simply can't.

Before having property deeded, owners have nearly three years' worth of chances to set up a payment program or settle the dispute. If the owner still doesn't pay, the property can be auctioned.

Those properties range from strip club locations in Naked City to developments in Mesquite.

Of the 270 companies and individuals that have had property deeded by the county, mortgage lender Platinum Capital owes the most - $211,000 on a half-acre parcel of vacant property on Jackson Avenue, near Owens Avenue and Interstate 15.

As of Aug. 6 the list of those in arrears also includes:

Several large developments owe on blocks of lots:

One thing is certain: the county will get its money.

As county spokesman Dan Kulin put it: "We always get paid in full, one way or another."