Posts
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Casino Property Tax
Philadelphia, PA: (Dec-04-07) The city brought charges against Foxwoods, the proposed river front casino in South Philadelphia, over its property taxes. Records show that Foxwoods appealed first to the city's Board of Revision of Taxes this year and then to the Court of Common Pleas after the property taxes on its 18.5 acre site increased from $277,670 in 2005 to $1,377,641 in 2006. The $64.7 million paid by Foxwoods investors for the site in 2005 caused the increase. As per documents at the City Department of Revenue, Foxwoods owes $2.8 million for 2006 and 2007 in back taxes, interest, penalties and legal fees. In a recent development in the case, the city agreed to lop off $1 million off the back taxes and allow Foxwoods to pay half now and half when it opens. Under the deal, Foxwoods will pay $1,750,000 for 2006 and 2007, with $875,000 due within 10 days and another $875,000 to be paid when Foxwoods opens. [PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS: CASINO PROPERTY TAX]
PG&E Property Tax
Los Angeles, CA: (Nov-29-07) Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (PG&E) brought a lawsuit against several counties, stating that they owed the company refunds on property taxes paid. PG&E sought refunds of nearly $2 million from Yuba County alone and $5.3 million from seven other counties. Sources claimed that in addition to Yuba County, Placer, Nevada, El Dorado, Mariposa, Butte, Plumas and Sierra counties were also named in the lawsuit. The lawsuit had challenged a California State Board of Equalization ruling that PG&E had a possessory interest in hydroelectric facilities in the eight counties where it buys power. Possessory interest is the ability to tax a private entity that occupies publicly owned land. As part of a settlement reached, rather than pay lump-sum refunds to PG&E, the defendants agreed to decrease the overall property tax bill by $10 million over the next 10 years. Sources close to the case stated that it was hard to predict the kind of impact the deal will have. Officials stated that PG&E won’t know if the property-tax settlement will result in rate reductions for customers until the state Public Utility Commission conducts a review. [APPEAL DEMOCRAT: PROPERTY TAX]
Satellite Property Tax
Oxford, CT: (Nov-21-07) The town of Oxford brought charges against Champion Teleport, a 13-acre business property, over unpaid taxes owed to the town. The suit stated that the money was owed from the personal property taxes for three satellite dishes at the former AlphaStar Broadcasting and Broadband property on Hawley Road. As part of a settlement reached, sources stated that the owner of Champion Teleport will pay the town $903,000 as part of the settlement the Board of Selectmen unanimously accepted. Under the deal, Champion Teleport will pay $50,000 to cover the personal property taxes for three satellite dishes, as well as pay the town more than $60,000 a month over 14 months to cover back real estate and sewer line taxes. Tax Collector Karen Guillet said Champion Teleport had owed the town more than $1.7 million, but agreed to settle at just under $1 million in a mediated discussion. [CONNECTICUT POST: PROPERTY TAX]
Philadelphia, PA: (Dec-04-07) The city brought charges against Foxwoods, the proposed river front casino in South Philadelphia, over its property taxes. Records show that Foxwoods appealed first to the city's Board of Revision of Taxes this year and then to the Court of Common Pleas after the property taxes on its 18.5 acre site increased from $277,670 in 2005 to $1,377,641 in 2006. The $64.7 million paid by Foxwoods investors for the site in 2005 caused the increase. As per documents at the City Department of Revenue, Foxwoods owes $2.8 million for 2006 and 2007 in back taxes, interest, penalties and legal fees. In a recent development in the case, the city agreed to lop off $1 million off the back taxes and allow Foxwoods to pay half now and half when it opens. Under the deal, Foxwoods will pay $1,750,000 for 2006 and 2007, with $875,000 due within 10 days and another $875,000 to be paid when Foxwoods opens. [PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS: CASINO PROPERTY TAX]
PG&E Property Tax
Los Angeles, CA: (Nov-29-07) Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (PG&E) brought a lawsuit against several counties, stating that they owed the company refunds on property taxes paid. PG&E sought refunds of nearly $2 million from Yuba County alone and $5.3 million from seven other counties. Sources claimed that in addition to Yuba County, Placer, Nevada, El Dorado, Mariposa, Butte, Plumas and Sierra counties were also named in the lawsuit. The lawsuit had challenged a California State Board of Equalization ruling that PG&E had a possessory interest in hydroelectric facilities in the eight counties where it buys power. Possessory interest is the ability to tax a private entity that occupies publicly owned land. As part of a settlement reached, rather than pay lump-sum refunds to PG&E, the defendants agreed to decrease the overall property tax bill by $10 million over the next 10 years. Sources close to the case stated that it was hard to predict the kind of impact the deal will have. Officials stated that PG&E won’t know if the property-tax settlement will result in rate reductions for customers until the state Public Utility Commission conducts a review. [APPEAL DEMOCRAT: PROPERTY TAX]
Satellite Property Tax
Oxford, CT: (Nov-21-07) The town of Oxford brought charges against Champion Teleport, a 13-acre business property, over unpaid taxes owed to the town. The suit stated that the money was owed from the personal property taxes for three satellite dishes at the former AlphaStar Broadcasting and Broadband property on Hawley Road. As part of a settlement reached, sources stated that the owner of Champion Teleport will pay the town $903,000 as part of the settlement the Board of Selectmen unanimously accepted. Under the deal, Champion Teleport will pay $50,000 to cover the personal property taxes for three satellite dishes, as well as pay the town more than $60,000 a month over 14 months to cover back real estate and sewer line taxes. Tax Collector Karen Guillet said Champion Teleport had owed the town more than $1.7 million, but agreed to settle at just under $1 million in a mediated discussion. [CONNECTICUT POST: PROPERTY TAX]
