Weiler taxes discussed (2/17/04)

With a local learning center now the legal owner of a dilapidated downtown building, Jay County Commissioners expect they’ll be asked to forgive more than $24,000 in unpaid property taxes.

Based on their initial reaction to the subject this morning, officials from John Jay Center for Learning shouldn’t be surprised if it doesn’t happen.

Commissioners’ president Milo Miller Jr. opened the discussion today, saying he expected JJCL to open discussions that would wipe out about $24,600 in property taxes that went unpaid by longtime Weiler Building owners Paul and Sally Detwiler.

Fellow Commissioners Gary Theurer and Mike Leonhard each said they supported the learning center’s acquisition of the building on the southeast corner of Meridian and Main streets, but thought the taxes should be paid.

“I’m not for forgiving any taxes,” Theurer said.

The commissioners agreed by consensus that officials from JJCL could use some of the $75,000 it is expected to receive this year from county funds to pay the back taxes.

Commissioners’ attorney Brad Burkett said he is not aware of a way to legally write off past due property taxes except for the county to take control of the building through the tax sale process.

The commissioners approved a total of $75,000 in allocations for the JJCL in 2003, including $50,000 in economic development income tax funds and $25,000 directly from the commissioners’ budget.

Miller warned Theurer and Leonhard that a decision to not write off the taxes due could bring a negative response from some members of the public.

“If we don’t forgive the taxes, it’s going to look like we’re trying to stop progress,” Miller said.

Jay County auditor Freda Corwin, who serves as the commissioners’ secretary, said this morning that “before we can transfer (ownership of) a deed, the taxes have to be paid.”

The amount due of $24,597.50 is for property taxes plus 10 percent penalties that have accumulated through five semi-annual and one annual tax payment cycles.

JJCL acquired the building on Friday, about a week after filing a foreclosure action against the Detwilers. JJCL recently acquired the mortgage from Beneficial of Indiana.

The learning center is expected to pursue grant funding to develop plans to convert the former department store into an education center.

Also this morning, the commissioners instructed Jay County community developer Wayne Bailey to move forward with asking for a planning grant for renovations at the Jay County Retirement Center.

Theurer and Miller had expressed some reservations last week about asking for the grant for a project they estimated could cost between $60,000 and $80,000.

Because Bailey said he can include his expenses in the requests, the county’s matching share for both a planning and construction grant would be less than 5 percent.

“If we don’t want (the grant money), somebody else is going to get it,” Leonhard said.

“They’re standing in line for it,” said Bailey.

The commissioners want to replace all windows at the retirement center, which was constructed in 1895. Also planned is construction of at least one Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant handicap ramp.[[In-content Ad]]