Spencer
BY KIMBERLY PIERCEALL
STAFF WRITER
kpierceall@pe.com
Published: 26 October 2011 07:00 PM
San Bernardino County tax collectors have seized $31,618 from the developer of San Bernardino International Airport and his related businesses, a fraction of the $544,876 he owes in property taxes, according to the county agency.
The developer, Scot Spencer, is the focus of an FBI-led investigation surrounding the airport.
Larry Walker, San Bernardino County’s auditor-controller/treasurer/tax collector, wouldn’t say how his tax collectors had found money seized so far, saying that divulging details might affect his staff’s advantage in finding more without Spencer’s cooperation.
“He’s certainly aware that he owes the money,” Walker said, adding that Spencer and his companies have received bills for some time.
He said speed and confidentiality going forward will be key to recouping the amount still owed by Spencer and his related companies doing business at the airport. Walker called the amount one of the highest his office has seen.
In an emailed reply to questions Wednesday, Spencer disputed that he hadn’t cooperated with tax collectors or that he owed what they say he owes.
“Our counsel has reviewed what appear to be material and significant errors in the County Tax Assessments and we have referred them to counsel to get the errors corrected,” he wrote. “As has always been the case we are committed to insuring that the correct property taxes are paid.”
In his sublease agreements with tenants, a provision passes the property tax obligations to the subtenant. Several of those subtenants have gone out of business, and only Spencer’s entities are named with the tax collector.
The debt has stacked up since at least 2005. Spencer was awarded two agreements to develop most of the airport at the former Norton Air Force Base in 2007. He earned a fee for every construction contract awarded. The cost to build a passenger terminal and luxury general aviation hub grew from $45million to $142.5 million in the last four years.
Walker said it hurts all taxpayers when others don’t pay their taxes.
To read entire story, click here.
Does anyone find it funny that only after this scandal has broke wide open that the county is knocking on Spencers door for just a little bit of the money owed?
Any chance our beloved Josie and her crew kept the wolves off Spencer before this scandal?
Your wrong AntiCorruptionUnit! Josie is the reason the county has collected any money from Spencer!!!
According to the article, Tax Collector Larry Walker “said he didn’t know why it took his office until now to begin seeking those funds.”
What a great answer!
In a county that is nearly bankrupt, the tax collector has no idea why the county has not tried to collect taxes that have been unpaid since “at least 2005.” Just when you think county bureaucrats could not possibly look any more inept, they are up to the challenge.
Still Fed-Up – Josie had years to ask questions and failed – spectacularly – to do so. It’s not like this stuff amounted to whispers at cocktail parties. It was in the newspapers going back to 2005 and 2006. The governing board refused to listen, investigate or engage in any thought process until the FBI raids. And, no, she isn’t the only one. Clearly the rest of the board, particularly those who led it, are as much or more to blame. But she also shouldn’t be allowed to pivot to a position of indignation as if she somehow took the initiative. She F’ed up. It’s time to say so and not act as if someone else’s screw up somehow mitigates hers.
Hey Larry “Serve Me, not us” Walker, which hat you wearing when you say you “don’t know”, your TAX COLLECTOR (used to be with Assessor’s function?) hat, or your AUDITOR-CONTROLLER one?
Sure as hell wasn’t his TREASURER’S hat, because a real non-conflicted TREASURER would know why, because THE DEVIL MADE HIM DO IT!
Really StillFed-UP, are YOU intoxicated or what? Josie hasn’t done squat except do what she usually does, sit on here hands until someone needs a vote.DUH!!!!
Josie is a fool. She tries to help but as soon as she opens her mouth she actually hurts the cause she takes up.
She reminds me of Derry.
Fed-Up must have missed Josie’s Grand Jury testimony where Josie claims she knew ALL along there was something wrong with the Colonies settlement. That was before the final settlement.
And according to Josie’s sworn testimony, SHE reported what she believed to be corruption to the DA immediatly. Of course I believe this type of testimony is going to hurt the DA’s case because the DA sat on their ass long after the settlement was reached.
So much for Josie’s immediate reporting. Maybe Ramos will throw Josie under the bus to preserve his case at some point. His pal Hamburger too?
If you wish to believe that, then you must ask yourself why Josie did not see or think there was any corruption at ARMC when DOCTORS came forward and spoke before the BOS?
No they were rebuffed as disgruntled employees. We can set aside Josie’s free medical care for a later argument.
NOW we have the airport and Josie is sitting on the Board. With her well established expertise on corruption to include the little issue with her very own Chief of Staff Bob Page being bribed, she completely missed the boat on the airport debacle and it’s well over $100 million in overspending.
And Mr.Spensor’s failure to pay his taxes to the County for more than a couple years.
Of course Mr.Walker has NO reasonable explanation for this oversight either. Mr. Walker has his own baggage on board his bus too. He is able to fly under the radar a little better than others though, but in real life probably as shady as his fellow elected officials.
Only until the Feds come knocking on doors serving search warrants here and there, does JOSIE realize there is something wrong.
NOW she is outraged!!!!!
NOW, Mr.Spensor is finally paying just a few bucks in back taxes.