By Jeanne Sager
HORTONVILLE — January 1, 2002 – There’s always at least one certainty in life – taxes – and that holds true for the Villa Roma Resort Hotel as well.
The State Supreme Court recently handed down a decision in favor of the Town of Delaware in a tax assessment battle with the resort, said Town Supervisor Bill Moran.
The Villa Roma sought relief from the town’s taxes on both the hotel and the condominiums on the property, stating that the town had over-valued the lots in both 1998 and 1999.
The condominiums, for example, were each assessed by the town at $62,000, which the Villa Roma claimed was $46,500 higher than their taxable value, said Town Clerk Tess McBeath.
The resort stated that the hotel itself, valued at $7 million by the town, had a fair market value of $3.3 million in 1998 and $3.4 million in 1999, McBeath added.
If the resort had won, they would have been owed thousands of dollars in back tax money from the town.
As it is, the town is left with legal fees from the case and the cost of an appraisal of the properties that had to be completed. The $125,000 cost for the case is being split.
The Sullivan West school district has taken on one-third of the cost, and the county government will shoulder a portion of the cost of the appraisal.
The town will be responsible for about $40,000 in legal fees and $20,500 in appraisal fees.