Gallery Furniture's McIngvale refuses to pay district tax
Says Houston agency has not delivered improvements
Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, June 1, 2009
HOUSTON — The Houston Chronicle reports Gallery Furniture's Jim McIngvale is prepared to go to court over $48,000 in local taxes and penalties, which he called "taxation without representation."McIngvale - who has been all over the news since a May 21 fire destroyed his store's warehouse here and was determined to be caused by arson - faces a lawsuit by the Greater Northside Management District here for $28,600 in unpaid taxes and additional penalties.
But McIngvale said he's not seeing improvements around his main showroom for that money so refuses to pay. Among other things, McIngvale said he is paying nearly $1,800 a week to have a neighboring property mowed, something he thinks the Management District should handle, according to the report.
Click here for the Chronicle report.
Talkback
-
this dude has some possible big troubles ahead.who tourched his warehouse the county??????
shia ben dalla - 2009-1-6 18:28:10 EDT -
for $1800/week to ride a tractor and mow the lawn, I'll consider coming out of retirement.
Good way for the district to lose the taxes when Gallery decides to move their warehouse to someplace reasonable.
Mason - 2009-1-6 12:15:08 EDT -
We had that lawn mowing mess going on around here a few years ago. We moved out of that county, just across the line. $1,800 worth is insane.
Lisa S. - 2009-1-6 11:25:11 EDT -
In many cases around America, business becomes the scapegoat for all of society's problems. They may tax this fellow out of business and how many jobs will be lost in the community?
Additionally, how many of us own businesses that are not in the same voting district that we live in? My guess is most of us that are business owners run into this, and so it is indeed taxation without representation when taxes are levied upon them.
I have never seen a county or local government come and sit down with the chamber of commerce prior to a tax 'enhancement'. They only come when an election is coming up to ask for campaign contributions.
Next time an incumbant asks you for a contribution, tell them you can't because you gave it all in taxes!
Steven J. Husak - 2009-1-6 11:09:33 EDT
Fire destroys Gallery Furniture warehouse
05/22/2009
