The Geary County Commission has decided to support the City of Junction City on the formation of a land bank.

Earlier this month the Junction City Commission sitting as the Land Bank Board of Directors agreed to accept more than 900 vacant housing lots on the west side of the city into the new Land Bank.

“The board of commission discussed that on today (Monday) and found out that it would be in our best interest as well to support that particular endeavor at this time,” said Larry Hicks, County Commission Chair.

Once those lots are deeded into the City Land Bank under the statutory authority the City Land Bank has the authority to sell those lots under whatever term it proposes and also to hold them.

Through the Land Bank past property taxes due are forgiven, but special assessments are not unless the City decides to abate them. Those assessments could possibly be reduced in the future if officials are able to obtain a favorable opinion  from the Attorney General allowing them to be re-amortized. That could lead to a reduction in the monthly payments that would have to be paid on those assessments by those acquiring the property in the future.