Posted on 04/17/2008 3:12:57 PM PDT by SmithL
While Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton was preparing to call for a 17 percent hike in city property taxes, he had a little tax problem of his own: unpaid city and county property taxes.
This morning, Herenton paid $5,768 in Shelby County property taxes on his home at 5281 Horn Lake. They were due Feb . 29. The amount paid this morning included $168.02 in interest and penalties.
City taxes on a property owned by Herenton Investment Co. at 270 Dubois, located in the Banneker Estates subdivision that Herenton is developing and where he lives, were paid yesterday. As of Wednesday, Herenton Investment Co., the mayor's homebuilding business, owed roughly $1,016 in city property taxes that were due Aug. 30.
“The mayor was aware of the issue earlier this week with his property taxes and has taken the necessary steps to rectify the situation, thus all of his property tax issues have been resolved,” said spokeswoman Toni Holman-Turner.
In his budget address to the council Tuesday, Herenton recommended a property tax increase to offset declining revenues. The proposal would bump the rate -- already the highest municipal rate in the state -- 58 cents to $4.01 per $100 of assessed value. It would raise the yearly tax bill on a $150,000 home to $1,503.75, up $217.50.
Herenton isn’t the only city official who has had problems paying taxes on time.
Memphis City Atty. Elbert Jefferson Jr. was delinquent on both his city and county property taxes, but paid them in December.
Jefferson owed $153.20 in delinquent city property taxes and was also late paying almost $1,100 in county taxes on his three-bedroom, two-bath house on Shelby Drive.
Jefferson paid the county about $1,500 in taxes and interest. He also paid off the $634.72 he owed for his delinquent 2005 taxes and $464.60 for 2006.
At the time, Jefferson said his workaholic ways and 16-hour workdays had become a bigger priority than his personal matters.
"I am more committed to this job and the citizens of Memphis than I am to my own personal welfare," he said. "My mail may stack up. My bills may not get paid. I take care of the citizens of Memphis to my detriment."
Big damned deal. So he paid them late. He paid interest and penalties ... he’s squared up.
I have just vomited in my mouth!
You would have to live in Tennessee to get it!
It is a BIG deal to us!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.