Supreme Court Considers Property Rights and Taxation Issues

The Supreme Court is hearing arguments in a case involving a 94-year-old woman who lost her condo over unpaid taxes, with the county keeping all the proceeds from the sale. The case raises questions about whether local governments can keep excess money from such sales, violating constitutional protections against having property taken without "just compensation" and excessive fines. Roughly a dozen states, including Minnesota, allow local jurisdictions to keep the excess money. The decision is expected by late June.