{"id":106,"date":"2008-10-20T23:33:00","date_gmt":"2008-10-20T23:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/terragrafix.com\/blog\/?p=106"},"modified":"2008-10-20T23:33:00","modified_gmt":"2008-10-20T23:33:00","slug":"emeryville-mayor-failed-to-pay-business-tax-for-four-years-also-owes-1700-in-property-taxes-and-fines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.thesecretnewsonline.com\/?p=106","title":{"rendered":"Emeryville Mayor Failed to Pay Business Tax for Four Years; Also Owes $1,700 in Property Taxes and Fines"},"content":{"rendered":"

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<\/span>By Tracy Schroth, Marc Albert and Brian Donahue<\/p>\n

Emeryville Mayor Ken Bukowski owes at least $2,000 in business and property taxes and the fines continue to stack up.<\/p>\n

The City sent Bukowski a certified letter several months ago demanding that he obtain a business license and pay the business tax on his Doyle Street rental property, which he has failed to pay every year since the tax law was enforced in 2004. But Bukowski said he doesn’t have the money, and is concerned that the law would allow the city to inspect the property “at any time, 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d which he said he is not comfortable with.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Bukowski says he was unaware of his property tax debt – more than $1,700, according to the Alameda County Assessor’s office.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>Emeryville’s Business License Tax<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t pay the thing,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Bukowski said of the business license tax, explaining that he voted against it when it came before the Council in 2004. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I was against it.” He added that he was one of many residents who didn’t pay the tax, arguing that the ordinance should be amended to exempt property owners earning less than $100,000 in gross rents. He said he would see if the Chamber of Commerce would support such an amendment.<\/p>\n

Bukowski estimates that he owes a few hundred dollars and said he will pay it when he can. “I’m having financial problems and it’s a low priority. Do you want to see a list of my creditors? Right now, my PG&E bill is more important,” he said. “Is it a crime to be broke in America?” City Finance Department officials did not return calls asking how much Bukowski actually owes.<\/p>\n

He said he gets income from his rental property and a monthly stipend of $1,100 as a City Council member.<\/p>\n

Bukowski owns two residential structures, a six-unit building at 5876-78 Doyle Street, and a two-unit next door at 5880, which he claims as his primary residence. He said he currently rents six of the eight units but would not say how much rent he collects.<\/p>\n

The business license tax is calculated based on the amount of gross rent. For most businesses, the tax is equal to the greater of $25 or .0008 % of annual gross receipts. Business license taxes declared delinquent are subject to a penalty of 5% a month up to a maximum of 25%. In addition, anyone who fails to pay the business tax is subject to interest at 1-1\/2% per month on the amount of tax and penalties from the date on which the business tax first became delinquent.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>Property Taxes<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>According to the Alameda County Assessor’s office, Bukowski has fallen behind on his property taxes for the structure at 5880 Doyle Street, but is current on the property taxes levied against the second, larger rental structure next door. He owes $1,719.56 and counting.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


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Tracy Schroth <\/i><\/b>is an Emeryville resident who believes in honest and transparent government that is accountable to the people it serves. She is concerned that the City Council majority is putting monied special interests before the needs and desires of the community. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/i>Marc Albert<\/i><\/b> has been a reporter at three radio stations and seven newspapers over the past 20 years. An East<\/st1:placename> Bay<\/st1:placetype><\/st1:place> resident since 1987, he lived in Emeryville from 1997 to 2008 and is still keenly interested in a community he considers home.<\/i><\/p>\n

Brian Donahue<\/strong> has lived and worked in Emeryville for 28 years. He and his wife, and young daughter, live in the Emeryville Artists’ Cooperative. Brian has been a longtime activist, working for transparent government and better of quality of life for the residents; he’s not very popular with the City Council majority.<\/em>

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