SB 328

Under current law, a municipality's governing body, building inspector, or other

designated official may issue an order to raze a dilapidated, dangerous, or

unsanitary building that is unreasonable to repair. The order is issued to the

building's owner and, if the owner does not comply with the order within the

prescribed time, the municipality may proceed to raze the building. The cost of

razing may be charged in full or in part against the real estate upon which the

building is located, in which case that cost becomes a lien upon the real estate and

may be assessed and collected as a special tax.

Under current law, if the cost or razing is assessed as a special tax and the owner

of the real estate does not pay the amount due, the municipality's costs to raze the

building must be paid by the county as part of the August settlement of property

taxes. Under this bill, the cost of razing may be assessed and collected as a special

charge, but may not be assessed and collected as a special tax. Under the bill, a

county would not be required to pay a municipality's razing costs if the owner of real

estate does not pay the special charge, even though a delinquent special charge

becomes a lien on the property against which it is imposed.