Michigan county treasurer rebuked for Seizing Retiree's Home over $8 Tax Debt

[Franklin Pierce]

Officials in one Michigan county are demanding answers from their treasurer amid concerns that the county could be on the hook for millions of dollars in payments to former homeowners whose properties were seized under a tough forfeiture practice.

Oakland County commissioners sent an angry letter last week to Treasurer Andrew Meisner after the Michigan Supreme Court rebuked the county’s decision to seize one homeowner’s house after he underpaid his taxes by $8.41.

The Michigan Supreme Court’s rebuke centers on the case of Uri Rafaeli, a retiree in his 80s whose 1,500-square-foot house in the Detroit suburb of Southfield was seized in 2014 and then sold for $24,500, with the county keeping all the earnings.

Michigan county treasurer rebuked for seizing retiree's home over $8 tax debt

 

[rekinhavoc]

Common sense would have saved Michigan alot of money. Shame on them. That is dirty pool. I imagine someone related to the treasurer if not themselves snatched up these properties.

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

Common sense would have saved Michigan alot of money. Shame on them. That is dirty pool. I imagine someone related to the treasurer if not themselves snatched up these properties.

Forget jail. Anyone involved in this should be given a coach ticket to Hell. Civil asset forfeiture... disgusting.

 

[lukeneyland]

Yay Government

 

[rjd970]

I don't know if any of you have ever had a tax debt with the state, but they are brutal when compared to the federal side when coming after you. It's borderline mob-like.

 

[hog88]

I don't know if any of you have ever had a tax debt with the state, but they are brutal when compared to the federal side when coming after you. It's borderline mob-like.

I watched TN destroy a small business over a sales tax debt.

 

[tntar heel]

Officials in one Michigan county are demanding answers from their treasurer amid concerns that the county could be on the hook for millions of dollars in payments to former homeowners whose properties were seized under a tough forfeiture practice.

Oakland County commissioners sent an angry letter last week to Treasurer Andrew Meisner after the Michigan Supreme Court rebuked the county’s decision to seize one homeowner’s house after he underpaid his taxes by $8.41.

The Michigan Supreme Court’s rebuke centers on the case of Uri Rafaeli, a retiree in his 80s whose 1,500-square-foot house in the Detroit suburb of Southfield was seized in 2014 and then sold for $24,500, with the county keeping all the earnings.

Michigan county treasurer rebuked for seizing retiree's home over $8 tax debt

And just for giggles he's running for Oakland County executive in 2020.

 

[VolStrom]

I watched TN destroy a small business over a sales tax debt.

Don't mess with the gubments money, they can collect it, they can print it, but if you get between them and 8 bucks you're screwed.

 

[LouderVol]

I don't know if any of you have ever had a tax debt with the state, but they are brutal when compared to the federal side when coming after you. It's borderline mob-like.

I have. GA seized my wages for a month because of a mistake THEY made originally. Took about a month of red tape gymnastics to talk with someone who knew what was going on. Once in contact with them it took all of 15 minutes to fix.

As someone else said, yay government.

 

[rjd970]

I have. GA seized my wages for a month because of a mistake THEY made originally. Took about a month of red tape gymnastics to talk with someone who knew what was going on. Once in contact with them it took all of 15 minutes to fix.

As someone else said, yay government.

Yeah, I live in Alabama. Last year I got a threatening letter saying I owed a debt from two years ago and not even a week later they put a lien on my house. Again, their mistake that I had to get someone on the phone to correct.

 

[FLVOL_79]

He's a democrat. Shocker.

 

[DC_Vol]

I don't know if any of you have ever had a tax debt with the state, but they are brutal when compared to the federal side when coming after you. It's borderline mob-like.

I had a dispute with the state of Maryland that dragged on for years. Could have been resolved in 2-3 hours if they were halfway cooperative. Once they say you owe it they are not interested in hearing otherwise. It was a miserable experience.

 

[midnight orange]

I don't know if any of you have ever had a tax debt with the state, but they are brutal when compared to the federal side when coming after you. It's borderline mob-like.

I don’t think you can compare the mob to the government. The mob at least has some sort of ethical code and are pikers when it comes to extortion, kidnapping and murder.

 

[rekinhavoc]

He's a democrat. Shocker.

He's already blaming Trump?

 

[FLVOL_79]

I don’t think you can compare the mob to the government. The mob at least has some sort of ethical code and are pikers when it comes to extortion, kidnapping and murder.

Mob is more organized, pays better, and gets more done.