A record 309 properties with delinquent taxes of $6.5 million are headed to auction next month as Lackawanna County readies its 2011 judicial sale.

The county Tax Claim Bureau on Thursday finalized the list of properties that will be offered at the Wednesday, Feb. 23, sale with the objective of finding new owners who will pay the taxes on a regular basis, deputy director Ron Koldjeski said.

Some have delinquencies dating back to 1993, he said.

“The last thing we want to do is take somebody’s house or land, but if they don’t care, we have to get them into the hands of someone who will pay,” Mr. Koldjeski said.

He said the 309 properties fall into three categories: those that did not attract a buyer during last fall’s upset sale, those with tax delinquencies of $25,000 or more and multiple delinquent properties with a single owner.

The judicial sale will be the fourth conducted by the administration of majority Commissioners Corey O’Brien and Mike Washo, who took office in 2008 and revived the sales after a hiatus of at least a decade.

Mr. Koldjeski anticipates the number of properties listed for sale will dwindle significantly by Feb. 23, falling to between 175 and 200, as owners pay off all or parts of their delinquent taxes.

To avoid the judicial sale, the delinquency must be paid by Tuesday, Feb. 22, at noon, he said.

In 2010, the owners of about 35 percent of the 215 properties scheduled for judicial sale came in beforehand and settled, bringing in more than $445,000 in delinquent taxes, he said.

“A lot of people will call up and say they didn’t know the taxes hadn’t been paid in 10 years,” Mr. Koldjeski said.

An owner who believes a property is on the list in error can file a written objection with the clerk of judicial records.

County court will begin hearing the objections on Friday, Feb. 10.

“After Feb. 10, for anybody who is still in, the only way to get out is to pay what is owed,” Mr. Koldjeski said.

Unlike an upset sale, in which the sale price includes all of the unpaid taxes and the buyer is responsible for other outstanding encumbrances, properties at a judicial sale are sold free and clear of past liens, judgments and mortgages.

Contact the writer: dsingleton @timesshamrock.com