ROCKLAND, Maine — The number of liens placed on properties this year for unpaid taxes is the most in 15 years.
The city filed 197 liens Wednesday at the Knox County Registry of Deeds. That’s up from 190 liens filed in 2013 and 187 in 2012.
The 197 liens is the most in a single year since 1999, when 207 were filed. The lowest number of liens filed came in 2003, when 109 were filed.
The liens filed this week are based on taxes levied in 2013. The amount of property taxes owed on those properties totals $526,491.
The property with the greatest lien is Orchid LLC, which owes $22,422 for the Lincoln Street Center building and land.
Owners of properties with liens have 18 months to pay off the money owed or the parcels become city-owned.
Two neighboring towns saw fewer liens filed this year.
Rockport filed 140 liens last month, down from 168 last year and 187 in 2012.
Camden filed 71 liens last month, down from 97 last year and 98 in 2012.