HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981 11-02 3M's tax withholding a thorn for county, Maplewood DISPATCH 3M' sithhldt- .woin acion ws
a thorn dor county, Maplewood
Nov ...t, i 9 g
By Linda Kohl lenging the assessed valuation of their corpo- "We're the only level of government that
Staff Writer rate headquarters complex near McKnight allows that to happen," Brown said, adding
Road in Maplewood. While county assessors that there are stiff penalties for taxpayers
The largest property tax dispute in Ram- placed the value of the property in 1979 at who refuse to pay a portion of their state or
sey County appearedopcertain to grow even $142 million, company representatives federal income taxes even if they wish to
larger today with the expected withholding clmaimed the complex was worth only $100 challenge their tax bills.
by 3M Co. of one-fourth of the company's at the time.
de-
property taxes due today. p ys
mA trial on the 3M tax case has been Understate law, any taxpayer who wishes layed because of difficulty in finding a judge.
The company filed a court petition in Ma to challenge an assessment is legally allowed The case is now before the state Tax Court,
to withhold one-fourth of the tax payment
and was granted permission twithhold $1.7 until the court case is settled. but all three of the Tax Court judges are ex
million of the total $6.8 million tax bill for pected to be disqualified. One judge disquali-
;his year. "I think the system was probably designed fied himself, and both the county and 3M
for little old ladies, not big corporations," have used or are expected to use their chal-
If the company withholds the money as ex- said Lou McKenna, director of the Property lenges to disqualify the other two judges.
)ected, it would make this the second consec- Taxation Department for Ramsey County.
hive year the company has challenged its The state Tax Court could assign a retired
property taxes and would bring the amount McKenna and Ramsey County Executive judge to hear the case, or could send it back
)f taxes withheld to$3.2 million. Director Larry Brown said they will urge the to Ramsey District Court for trial.
state Legislature to change the law to make
Last year, 3M officials filed a lawsuit chal- such withholding of tax illegal. Please see Taxes/2A