Posted on 07/07/2008 2:56:43 PM PDT by NMR Guy
The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors has scheduled a closed-door session to tackle a $20 million debt that came to light earlier this week.
The board added the issue to its Tuesday agenda after learning the county must reimburse South San Francisco biotech firm Genentech for a portion of its property taxes dating to 1994. The $20 million judgment by the San Mateo County Superior Court was punishment for a scheduling error in the county's assessment appeals process.
The closed session is the first step as the county scrambles for ways to cushion the blow, which threatens to cut millions of dollars from local school districts and other agencies. Sources say options include negotiating with Genentech, spreading the payments over multiple years or even asking the state for help.
"This couldn't have come at a worse time, with the state budget crisis and the cutbacks we're experiencing," Supervisor Mark Church said. "I really don't know how we're going to handle it, with all the pressing needs that the county has right now."
Church is among those who would like to see Genentech step in and help.
He noted that the court's decision wasn't based on the merits of the company's case, which claimed the county had long been overtaxing the company's land. Rather, Genentech won automatically because the county's assessment appeals board failed to hear its case within the required time frame.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
This should be no problem. I'm sure San Mateo county has helped lots of employers deal with the problem when property taxes came due at "the worst possible time."
Yes, the blood suckers would like to just “forget” their error.
Wonderful News!
Great for Genentech!
Is that legal in that jurisdiction?
I don’t have any tremendous amount of sympathy for government that f@cks up royally like this, especially when it comes to taxes. They often are merciless when the mistake is made, even small technical mistakes, by citizens or businesses.
Recall all the elected officials, tkae their pensions away and use them to a down payment back, and make THEM liable. Let them feel how it is to be looked at as a personal ‘wallet’ for someone else.
I suppose it would be rude to ask which political party holds the majority of votes on the Board.
Maybe the county could sell Wunderlich Park, it’s surely worth a few bucks.
Ooops! My only statement....The shoe on the other foot, now how does it feel Mr. Church.
Genentech should screw them to the wall. Maybe the public servants responsible for the error should lose their pensions.
Yes to the county can tax them to recoup the money. LOL
$20 Million is just a PORTION of the property taxes???
Bay area governmental operations, under the guidance of the Democrats, continues to be a beacon of light and hope to the few, the dumb and the cowardly.
I hope this starts a precedent to reign in these little tyrant taxing dictators on county boards and municipalities
who rake in taxes like pigs at the trough.
Not rude.
Just a waste of oxygen.
IMHO.
Isn't that exactly how cities and states fleece their citizens? Rising property taxes reflect the technicality of the market, nothing the government has done. The citizen has gained no additional benefit from the higher home value, yet they are punished because of a technicality. Suck it up Church. Better put some ice on that.
As a resident of San Mateo county, you can bet I will be pitching this starting tomorrow. However if the elected official resigns voluntarily and donates the pension, I am willing to overlook the liability...
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