This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Today is the deadline for residents of the largely polygamous community of Colorado City, Ariz. and Hildale, Utah to make some kind of arrangements to pay back property taxes or face possible eviction.
The state-controlled property trust that holds nearly all the homes and property there owes $2.2 million in back taxes, said Bruce Wisan, the accountant appointed to run the trust after the state took it over in 2005. Some parcels could go up for tax sale next year.
Read my last story on this issue here.
I'm going to publish on a longer story tomorrow, but in the meantime here are a couple of high points:
- FLDS leaders loyal to Warren Jeffs responded to notices seeking property taxes with a two-sentence letter signed by John Barlow. It says they've set up a fund to pay the taxes, but plan to give them directly to the counties. So far, though, Wisan said he's not gotten word of any new payments.
- Wisan told me he's planning to begin eviction proceedings against four parcels, which contain 28 homes — but that process takes several weeks and he's hoping the property taxes get paid before anyone is evicted.
Stay tuned for more details! (Update: the story is still developing as of 2/2, but it should run this weekend)