"Usually the "tax collectors" seek out the last registered "owner" to collect the tax. What would protect the party who you sold it to, and then bought it back from, and then did not record that sell, from being sought after for the tax that will not go unpursued?"
My brother lives outside the State, and their only recourse against him is to seize the land. An affidavit from him, that he sold it by private contract should suffice. I would think anyone trying to record myself as the owner of record might require proof, like maybe the private contract.
"Secret? I dunno. A lot is plain and obvious in the contracts."
There is an intent here, and it includes fraud. They detain the people in an unfavorable position by withholding information and they do it without placing anything you are mentioning into evidence. It is an obvious fraud. It is nothing more than a justified method of theft. To encumber any property against the will of the owner is the basic definition of theft. They have no interest in the property (and admit it) and no standing without any claimed injury. This is basic civil rules.
"Another possibility is grab the County CAFR. After purchase break out your per capita share of the services you want and pay it itemized. "
If these bastards followed the rules of court, I could probably do that.