§ 15-6-421 — Assessments; certificates of delinquency; issuance, sale; evidence therefrom; restriction

(a) Any city or town, by ordinance, may provide for the
issuance of certificates of delinquency for any delinquent
assessment or installment and any penalty and interest thereon
to date of issuance. The certificates of delinquency constitute
a lien against the property upon which assessments were levied.
They shall bear interest from the date of issuance at the rate
of twelve percent (12%) per year and may be foreclosed after two
(2) years from the date of their issuance in the same manner and
with the same effect as mortgages upon real estate are
foreclosed.
(b) The certificates may be:
(i) Issued to the city or town;
(ii) Sold to any person applying for them;
(iii) Assigned in writing, and the city or town may
sell and assign any certificates issued to it upon the payment,
in cash of the principal and accrued interest.
(c) A certificate is prima facie evidence that:
(i) The land against which it was issued was subject
to the assessment at the time assessed;
(ii) The property was assessed as required by law;
and
(iii) The assessment or installment was not paid
prior to the issuance of the certificate.
(d) No certificate of delinquency may be issued upon any
property for any assessment or installment during the pendency
of any proceedings in court affecting the assessment or
installment thereof.