Ninety lots in Gov. Jim Justice’s name are up for auction next week in McDowell County.
The lots add up to a total tax value of $46,796. They are available to the highest bidder because the owner, listed as James C. Justice II, is considered to be delinquent on property tax payments.
There’s another lot listed under both James Justice and National Resources, one of the family’s businesses, listed for another $181.18.
“Each tract or lot will be sold to the highest bidder. The payment for any tract or lot purchased at a sale shall be made by check or money order payable to the sheriff of the county and delivered before the close of business on the day of the sale,” according to guidelines posted with the West Virginia Auditor.
This is in addition to dozens of lots owned by Justice or his family businesses up for auction next week in Wyoming and Raleigh counties.
The McDowell County auction is set for 9 a.m. June 14 at the Armory.
The lots still may be redeemed to any person entitled to pay the taxes any time prior to the sale, so there’s still a chance for the governor or his representatives to hold onto the property.
Property taxes in West Virginia go to support public school districts, local libraries, police, public parks and additional local government services.
Delinquent tax issues mount over months, with multiple warnings.
Mid-July each year, county sheriffs send out tax tickets by mail. First half taxes are due Sept. 1 with a discount, and second half taxes on March 1. Overdue taxes are published in local newspapers in May. By the next September, legal ads are again published in newspapers and certified letter are sent to the delinquent taxpayer.
By the start of the second November on the timeline, the Auditor’s Office receives a delinquent tax list that includes the delinquent year, plus the current year. By the second March, properties still in question are certified for public auction by the Auditor’s Office, and yet another classified advertisement is published.
Over three months of April, May and June, public auctions of delinquent properties occur in county courthouses.
Raleigh County’s auction notice includes 11 properties owned specifically by James C. Justice II, the governor. The properties in Justice’s name in the Shady Spring area add up to $28,000 in taxes owed, also the amount stated for minimum bids.
Auctions in Raleigh and Wyoming counties include dozens of properties owned by Justice family businesses such as Grandview Investment Company, Tams Management, Saddlebred LLC, James Land Company, Kirby Land Company, Bluestone Resources, National Resources and James C. Justice Companies. Those businesses owe even more tax dollars on the lots.
The Raleigh County auction is scheduled for 9 a.m. June 15 in the Ceremonial Court Room. The Wyoming County auction is set for 9 a.m. June 16 in the lobby of the county courthouse.
Justice, once described as West Virginia’s only billionaire, is facing an earthquake of recent financial pressures.
The financial problems have spiked even as the Justice family businesses explore the sale of their coal operations to settle a debt with international lender Credit Suisse and as the governor’s wages are garnished over still another debt.
Justice has announced a high-profile campaign for U.S. Senate. In the primary election, he faces Congressman Alex Mooney, who is being backed by millions of dollars from the hardline Club for Growth, which already has an advertisement portraying Justice as a “deadbeat billionaire.”
Justice has said he does not intend to self-fund his campaign, saying it will take a team effort. So far, Justice doesn’t have any campaign finance filings with the Federal Elections Commission.
When asked about the various debts, Justice has said he turned over day-to-day operations of the businesses to his son and daughter and said the family’s businesses will make good on what they owe. And, in several instances, he has blamed political forces.
“But with all that being said, I promise you that many of the things that you may be seeing that are reported are skewed one way or another. You may absolutely be really surprised by the final outcomes. And I’ll promise you just this, that any obligation, responsibility or whatever it may be that these companies have, that they’ll be taken care of,” Justice said last month in a wide-ranging news briefing.