A Republican state representative claims the recession caused him to fall behind in paying property taxes on rental property he owns.
Late Thursday afternoon, Rep. Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg) presented a $20,317.89 check to the Johnson County Collector, paying in full taxes and penalties owed from five properties he owns and operates with his brother in Warrensburg. Hos Properties LLC owed $16,091.03 in property taxes on five rental properties in Warrensburg. The penalties for being delinquent on paying the taxes total $4,226.86.
Hoskins says there’s an easy explanation for why he fell behind
“Our rental properties business, Hos Properties LLC, is struggling just like many other Missouri businesses,” Hoskins tells the Missourinet. “When our tenants can’t pay their rent due to the economic recession, we struggle to pay our mortgage payment and property taxes on our rentals.”
The Missouri House Democratic Campaign Committee made the issue public, producing documents disclosing that Hoskins and his brother, Brian, hadn’t paid their 2008 property taxes by the December 31st deadline last year. Penalties for delay of payment piled up to total more than $4,000. Property tax statements for the current year have been sent out and are due in a little more than a month.
Hoskins, a CPA, dismisses the accusations of Democrats that he was abusing the system, because he’s a state representative.
“I have not done anything illegal,” Hoskins says, “We were late paying our 2008 property taxes on our rental properties.”
Johnson County Collector of Revenue, Ruthanne Small, reports that Hoskins presented a check to the office late Thursday afternoon. She says Hos Properties is now paid in full.
“As an elected official, I’m not immune to the economic recession and we are feeling the financial crunch just like many other Missourians,” says Hoskins.
Democrats, though, point out that it has taken Hoskins nearly a year to pay his 2008 property taxes.
Download/listen Brent Martin reports (1:15 MP3)
