The Willow Glen Resident

SJ City Council grants BID members 3-month amnesty

Over 20 merchants owe a total of $10k to the business association

By Cecily Barnes

Willow Glen merchants who operate within the Business Improvement District (BID) on Lincoln Avenue will soon have the opportunity to pay past-due taxes without penalty. At an Aug. 4 meeting, the San Jose City Council voted to enact a three-month amnesty period in concurrence with the Business Tax Amnesty Program. Merchants along downtown Lincoln Avenue who pay fees to the Willow Glen Business and Professional Association can pay back taxes owed to the city from as long ago as October 1995.

The amnesty program will run from Sept. 14 through Dec. 15 and will be open to any business not already involved in a civil lawsuit over unpaid taxes with the city. Businesses that don't pay up during this goodwill amnesty period can expect both public exposure and civil litigation, WGBPA manager Demetri Rizos said.

"It's public information, so we could do that," he said. "The finance department will take rigorous action to collect the money."

According to Rizos, between 25 and 32 Willow Glen BID members owe a combined total of $10,000 in unpaid taxes. The WGBPA has been waiting a long time to force delinquent merchants to make good on their accounts, Rizos said, and because of the association's low budget, this extra money has been badly needed.

"We've been waiting at least three years to get the city to go after these delinquent accounts," he added. "The BID pays my salary and pays the office expenses. We need every dime that we get. Also, it's not fair for them not to pay. It's like paying taxes: Everyone has to pay taxes."

One-third of WGBPA revenues comes from the business-assessment tax. Retail businesses pay $240 annually, non-retail shops pay $120 and banks pay $500. In return, association members are included in special events, such as the quarterly mixers, Dancing on the Avenue and Founders Day.

Businesses that owe more than $154.50 may arrange a payment schedule, making the first installment upon filing for amnesty, the second payment after 30 days and the final payment after 60 days. If a merchant falls behind on these payments, the amnesty will become invalid and all unpaid penalties plus interest will again be owed.

[ Back to Contents Page | Willow Glen Resident Home Page | Archives ]