Ventura County Tax Collector Larry Matheney recently announced the cancellation of an auction of taxdefaulted properties.

With one exception involving a substandard-sized parcel of raw land, all properties that had been slated for sale to satisfy unpaid property taxes have now been redeemed by payment of all taxes, penalties and costs.

By state law, the tax collector is required to offer at public auction real property with a delinquency five years. Notices are sent to the owners to alert them that the property is in danger of being sold.

In May 2008, the tax collectors' office initiated a new strategy designed to keep homeowners who were behind in their taxes in their residences rather than selling the properties and putting these people on the streets. The office tried to make personal contact with each property owner to learn the reason for the default.

In one instance, public services manager Jennifer Smith learned that a resident who owned her residence with a paid-off mortgage was eligible for a state program that allowed for the postponement of property taxes under certain circumstances.

The state controller hasn't announced when funding will again be available for the Senior Citizen Property Tax Postponement program.

For updates, go to www.sco.ca.gov.