CROWN POINT | Lake County Treasurer John Petalas said he may not hold a tax sale this year for delinquent property owners.

Petalas said that as of Monday, past-due taxes in the county amounted to $182 million, but he is in no hurry to sell the delinquents' property out from under them.

"People's bills have gone up. They are not getting the bills on time, and they are paying double installments on one day," Petalas said. "To force them into a tax sale is like adding insult to injury.

"If there is a tax sale, it will be later in the year. Nobody is in a hurry trying to put anyone's property up for sale."

Last year, Lake County officials sold more than 1,100 delinquent properties to the highest bidders during tax sales in July, October and November, raking in more than $23 million in back taxes, interest and penalties.

However, Petalas said he would like to try a different approach this year.

"I would like to offer an amnesty for basically anything except industry," he said. "The idea is to give them a two-month or three-month period, one time only."

He said property owners would pay their back taxes and be forgiven interest and penalty fees.

However, Petalas said he doesn't have the authority to offer amnesty. The Indiana General Assembly, which does have the authority, has declined Petalas' petitions in the past to offer amnesty.

Petalas said the state's position is inconsistent with its 2005 amnesty for unpaid state taxes.

Petalas said homeowners and landlords account for more than half of the total of tax delinquent dollars, but they have been particularly hard-pressed in recent years.

"The idea would be for them to come in, pay their principal and be square," he said, adding that amnesty wouldn't shortchange local government.