MACOMB —Macomb County is looking to get more aggressive on foreclosing occupied homes of people who fail to pay their property taxes in 2012. According to Macomb County treasurer Ted Wahby, for years the county has avoided such measures as foreclosure, with policies that help home owners come up with negotiations for payment plans. This year alone, the county’s Hardship Deferral Program has doubled, leaving 575 homeowners owing property taxes. 

Sherri Murphy, the personal property tax coordinator for Macomb County says the amount of time his staff has spent acting as bill collectors, which include phone calls, sending letters and making house visits frequently just to track people down, has been too overwhelming on the county and resulted in over $2.5 million in owed property taxes. That amount is just a fraction of the total amount of delinquent taxes owed. When the county began its collection efforts this year, close to $30 million was owed on 8,900 parcels.