Seneca County Town Prevails in Tax Assessment Lawsuit

Seneca Daily News:

The Town of Romulus has defeated a lawsuit by a local corporation that sought to reduce from nearly $300,000 total to zero the taxable value of several private properties that the corporation owns.

On Tuesday (May 19), Romulus Town attorney Steven Getman asked the court to dismiss the case. Arguing for dismissal, Getman stated that the law required Lakeshore Landing to submit appraisals or other factual data to show that the assessments were excessive. In this case, Getman said, the association had failed to do so. Furthermore, Getman noted, various legal factors demonstrated that the properties had a value to Lakeshore Landing, including its right to borrow against the properties or sell them outright.

Romulus Town Supervisor David Kaiser said he was pleased with the court’s decision, noting that, if Lakeshore Landing had succeeded, the town’s other taxpayers would have been required to make up the lost revenue.

More here.

Seneca County town wins over $200,000 against business for unpaid loans

Seneca Daily News:

A Geneva business and two Yates County businessmen have been found liable to the Town of Romulus for over $200,000.00 in unpaid community development funds.

On Tuesday (August 12), Acting Supreme Court Justice Dennis Bender granted a motion by the Romulus town attorney, Steven Getman, and directed summary judgment against Top Quality Hay Processers, Jeffrey Warren and Charles Long, for failure to repay a 2008 loan.

According to the town’s complaint, the loan was intended for Top Quality Hay Processors to create jobs at the former Seneca Army Depot, located in the Town of Romulus. As principals in the business, Warren and Long agreed to personally guarantee the loan, the court papers said.

However, the complaint alleged, the loan was not repaid and in 2012, the building housing Top Quality Hay Processors was condemned by Seneca County Code Enforcement.

Shortly thereafter, town supervisor David Kaiser and the town board directed Getman to commence a lawsuit to recover the money.

The money was from the state government through the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program (“CDBG”), the complaint said...

At Tuesday’s court appearance, Bender found for the town and directed the three defendants to repay the $200.000.00, together with costs, interest and attorneys’ fees.

The town has estimated the total amount due the town at approximately $217,000.00 plus additional interest...

The defendants have approximately thirty days to appeal. After that, if the judgment is not repaid, the town will begin collection effort...Those efforts may include seizing property, garnishing wages and other measures...