In Arizona, citizens can still lose their houses over minuscule tax bills, despite a unanimous 2023 Supreme Court ruling that was supposed to paralyze the practice nationwide.
A disturbing chasm is growing between the letter of the law and the spirit of justice. Christine Searle, a 70-year-old retiree, faces the loss of her home—valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars—over a mere $1,607.68 in back taxes. Sadly, her story is not uncommon in Arizona.
For nearly two decades, Searle’s home in Gilbert, Arizona, has been more than walls and a roof—it has been a haven of happy memories. But because she owed taxes to Maricopa County, a tax lien was placed on her home a few years ago. Arizona law then allowed the company that purchased the lien to foreclose on her home, meaning Searle lost her home and all its equity. The notion that a home can be auctioned off and ultimately acquired for a fraction of its value over a minor tax dispute is terrifying.