(A) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(2) of section 5721.17 and division (B) of section 319.43 of the Revised Code, the proceeds from a forfeiture sale shall be distributed as follows:

(1) The county auditor shall deduct all costs pertaining to the forfeiture and sale of forfeited lands, including costs pertaining to a foreclosure and forfeiture proceeding instituted under section 5721.14 of the Revised Code, except those paid under section 5721.04 of the Revised Code, from the moneys received from the sale of land and town lots forfeited to the state for the nonpayment of taxes, and shall pay such costs into the proper fund. In the case of the forfeiture sale of a parcel against which a foreclosure and forfeiture proceeding was instituted under section 5721.14 of the Revised Code, if the proceeds from the forfeiture sale are insufficient to pay the costs pertaining to such proceeding, the county auditor, at the next semiannual apportionment of real property taxes, shall reduce the amount of real property taxes that the auditor otherwise would distribute to each subdivision to which taxes, assessments, charges, penalties, or interest charged against the parcel are due. The reduction in each subdivision's real property tax distribution shall equal the amount of the unpaid costs multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the amount of taxes, assessments, charges, penalties, and interest due the subdivision, and the denominator of which is the total amount of taxes, assessments, charges, penalties, and interest due all such subdivisions.

(2) Following the payment required by division (A)(1) of this section, the part of the proceeds that is equal to ten per cent of the taxes and assessments due shall be deposited in equal shares into each of the delinquent tax and assessment collection funds created pursuant to section 321.261 of the Revised Code.

(3) Following the payment required by division (A)(2) of this section, the remaining proceeds shall be distributed by the auditor to the appropriate subdivisions to pay the taxes, assessments, charges, penalties, and interest which are due and unpaid. If the proceeds available for distribution under this division are insufficient to pay the entire amount of those taxes, assessments, charges, penalties, and interest, the auditor shall distribute the proceeds available for distribution under this division to the appropriate subdivisions in proportion to the amount of those taxes, assessments, charges, penalties, and interest that each is due.

(B) If the proceeds from the sale of forfeited land are insufficient to pay in full the amount of the taxes, assessments, charges, penalties, and interest; the costs incurred in the proceedings instituted pursuant to this chapter and section 5721.18 of the Revised Code, or the foreclosure and forfeiture proceeding instituted pursuant to section 5721.14 of the Revised Code; and, if division (B)(2) of section 5721.17 of the Revised Code is applicable, any notes issued by a receiver pursuant to division (F) of section 3767.41 of the Revised Code and any receiver's lien as defined in division (C)(4) of section 5721.18 of the Revised Code, the court may enter a deficiency judgment against the last owner of record of the land before its forfeiture to the state, for the unpaid amount. The court shall enter the judgment pursuant to section 5721.192 of the Revised Code. Except as otherwise provided in division (B) of section 319.43 of the Revised Code, the proceeds paid pursuant to the entry and satisfaction of such a judgment shall be distributed as if they had been received as a part of the proceeds from the sale of the land to satisfy the amount of the taxes, assessments, charges, penalties, and interest which are due and unpaid; the costs incurred in the associated proceedings which were due and unpaid; and, if division (B)(2) of section 5721.17 of the Revised Code is applicable, any notes issued by a receiver pursuant to division (F) of section 3767.41 of the Revised Code and any receiver's lien as defined in division (C)(4) of section 5721.18 of the Revised Code.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.28, HB 153, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2011.

Effective Date: 05-25-1994; 2008 SB353 04-07-2009