Bait and Switch

RANDOLPH, Utah.  October 2, 2013.  County Commission Meeting.  Lou Jean Argyle, County Treasurer, said that the County must pay back $48,000 and the school district must pay $102, 000 to Verizon, which is centrally assessed for tax purposes. This is common; a large public utility will tell  local units about all of the benefits they will receive from taxes from allowing them to use county land.  When the project is completed, they appealed to the courts asking for a refund.  Verizon has appealed  for a rebate of some of the taxes for 2007 to 2012. Over four billion dollars has to be paid back to Verizon state wide.   Tom Weston said, “As soon as they come in they tell you how much they will give you and then as soon as they get what they want, they appeal it and usually win.  

Ruby pipeline did the same thing, and are now asking for their tax money back.”  Norm Weston said, “That’s why you shouldn’t spend the money until the appeal is made.” 

This is an ongoing problem especially for small counties.  These centrally assessed companies make a lot of promises about how much it will benefit the public to be or build in the county when they come in and then quietly appeal it leaving the counties short of funds.