According to the Treasurer's Office, the parcels have already gone through foreclosure proceedings, but a vote of the Legislature was required to accept or reject the bids. Lawmakers voted 30 to 1 in favor of finalizing the bids Wednesday night.

Legislator Susan Zimet, D-New Paltz, was the lone opponent.

"It's such an unfair formula," Zimet said. "The county (is forced) to step up to the plate to foreclose on people's houses. We become the foot soldiers and the executioners in a really broken system of taxation, a really unfair policy. I don't want to play this game anymore."

Gardiner resident Gioia Shebar, who is on the coordinating committee of a statewide coalition called Property Tax Nightmare, held a large sign that read, "End the Property Tax Nightmare." She interjected comments like "Take a stand" while legislators discussed the resolution - interruptions that nearly led to her being removed from the legislative chamber.

"It was their opportunity to do, as the French say, 'Je refuse' - I refuse - as a gesture to the fact that people are dying from these property taxes," a disappointed Shebar said Thursday.

Several legislators confirmed they are also frustrated over the state's taxing system, but pointed out reform must be at the state level.

"Everybody in this room wants to do the same thing, but is denying (these foreclosures) here the vehicle to do it?" said Legislator Alan Lomita, D-Rosendale. "We need to go after the problem. I would like to see a memorializing resolution to put the onus on the state."

"The problem is if we vote 'no,' no one will pay their property taxes," said Majority Leader Jeanette Provenzano, D-Kingston, who pointed out that a number of services would have to be shut down without property tax revenue.

Legislator Richard Parete thought county lawmakers were being too easy on themselves by blaming the state, but also said Zimet was grandstanding.

"Every county legislator is responsible for some of the budget and the property tax situation," said Parete, D-Accord. "If everyone took the cheap insurance plan as opposed to the Cadillac plan, maybe some of these people wouldn't have to move out of their houses."

Kirschner said his office works hard to help people keep their homes using an installment plan, under which property owners are given two years to pay their back taxes as long as they keep up-to-date on their current tax bills.

He said only one of the 24 foreclosed parcels had a family living there. Of the bids for the 24 properties approved Wednesday, 18 were for vacant lots, five were residential properties and one was a commercial property, according to the Treasurer's Office.

There were $146,139 worth of unpaid taxes on the 24 parcels. Bids for each parcel typically start at the amount of taxes due on that particular piece of property. The county received a total of $446,500 for the parcels.

Legislators Frank Felicello, R-Marlboro, and Joseph Stoeckeler, D-Ellenville, were absent.