If a township, city, or county officer learns or believes that there is danger that personal property which has been assessed and upon which any personal property taxes are due or will be due, will be sold, or removed from the county, without payment of the taxes and without leaving sufficient property to pay the whole of such taxes, the officer shall report such fact to the sheriff, who forthwith shall collect the taxes, or distrain and sell sufficient property to pay the same, if they are not paid on demand, or require an undertaking from the owner in favor of the county treasurer, conditioned that all taxes levied upon such property will be paid when due. Such undertaking must be approved by the recorder, unless the board of county commissioners designates a different official. If the taxes involved have not been levied, they must be ascertained by the county auditor by applying the aggregate mill levy of the previous year for the taxing district in which the property is assessed to the current taxable valuation, and if, after the tax for the current year is levied, there is any excess, it must be refunded to the taxpayer on order of the board of county commissioners. In case a bond has been given, and the taxes are not paid when due, the county treasurer shall bring an action for the taxes and costs in the district court of the county, and the state's attorney shall represent the treasurer in such action on the bond.
N.D.C.C. § 57-22-16