Nonpayment of taxes affected County taxing districts

DAYTON–With the impending receipt of over $2 million in back taxes just around the corner, the effect of several years of unpaid taxes by Columbia Pulp I, LLC, did have an adverse effect on Columbia County, says Carla Rowe, County Treasurer.

“Budgets were short,” Rowe said of the impact the now-defunct company’s lack of tax payments, “especially for smaller districts, like Fire District No. 1.”

The uncollected tax for the fire district which serves the Starbuck area was shy 36.57%, Rowe noted. “We only collected 63% of the taxes – that’s pretty significant.”

Columbia County also lost out on receiving sales tax paid on equipment purchased for the plant. Those taxes were deferred and were to be caught up once the plant is up and running, Rowe said.