Town wins
tax appeal case

By TOM KANE

HORTONVILLE — Good news comes to the Town of Delaware along with the Christmas season.

Supreme Court Judge Robert Williams ruled in favor of the town in a tax assessment dispute with the Villa Roma.

In fact, the Sullivan West School District and Sullivan County government also were benefactors.

The case involved the hotel’s property assessment going back to 1998.

Residents were informed of the court’s decision last Wednesday evening, December 19, at the town meeting.

About a year ago, the Villa Roma resort went to court to have its assessment reduced on the main building of the hotel, and the condominiums that are also a part of the property.

The hotel pays taxes to the town, the school district and the county.

“It would mean a serious loss to the town, not just in back taxes but in future payments,” said town supervisor Bill Moran.

Legal fees for the case were over $125,000.  The cost was to be shared by the defendants by one-third each. Since the county used its own lawyers, it did not share in the legal costs but did share the cost of the appraisal that had to be conducted, Moran said.

In other town matters, the board accepted the resignation of George Lahm as the superintendent of highways. Lahm is retiring after serving the town for 37 years.