The Town of High River has over 80 properties that could go up for auction to recover unpaid taxes from between 2012 and 2015.

Mayor Craig Snodgrass says the number is a bit unusual for a town this size.

"But considering what we've been focused on, which is flood re-build, a few of these things have just compounded and a lot of it is, a number of them are people who, their home had to be demolished, they haven't re-built yet, they're sitting on a piece of property and they just haven't paid tax on that property," he says. "Regardless of whether you have a home on there or not you do have taxes that need to be paid, so that's a big piece of it.

Councillor Bruce Masterman said at Monday's council meeting he empathizes with those who were affected by the flood but says they do have a town to run and those are not paying their taxes are being subsidized by those who are.

Mayor Snodgrass says it's been over three years since the flood and it's getting past time to deal with them so the town is going to have to take "some pretty aggressive action" to recoup the unpaid taxes.

The total taxes owing is over $400,000.

The Town will try again to contact the owners of the properties before putting them up for auction to recoup the un paid taxes.

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