Unpleasant but necessary

Tax sales and foreclosures are not happy events for anyone involved. Governments and other creditors would much rather be paid what is owed them than go to the trouble and expense of a forced sale on the courthouse steps. Unfortunately, the facts dictate that cities, counties, banks and other mortgage holders must occasionally take the final steps to see that their interests are protected.

That is what took place last week when the City of Waynesboro held its first tax sale in more than four years. The sale netted about $35,000 in badly needed funds which will ultimately go into the city's operating revenue.

In this time of economic uncertainty, government leaders must be especially diligent in their oversight of public funds. This sale was an excellent example of that oversight.

No one likes to see property forcibly taken away from its owners; that is why procedures for these sales are so carefully formulated to protect the rights of all parties involved. Property owners have up until the very last minute to satisfy their obligations before the sale. And, in the case of tax sales like this, there is still a one year window of opportunity for the taxes to be paid and the ownership restored.

We applaud the Waynesboro's mayor and council and the city's administrative staff for successfully carrying out an unpleasant but necessary duty of local government.