Huckleberries Online

Hart Late On Property Taxes Since 2002

Posted by DFO

June 24, 2010 5:30 p.m. • 14 comments

Idaho State Rep. Phil Hart, who’s currently facing a House ethics review over his ongoing fight over unpaid federal and state income taxes, has paid his property taxes late on his Kootenai County home every year since 2002 and had to pay hundreds in interest and penalties. Tax records kept by the Kootenai County Treasurer’s Office show that Hart currently owes $1,011.23 for the 2009 taxes on the home, plus $55.04 in interest and $18.74 in penalties. Over the past eight years, he’s been as much as 16 months late on the property taxes on the home, and has paid $1,527.05 in interest and $325.64 in penalties and fees/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. More here.

Question: What do you think? Now that he’s dating a future Kootenai County commissioner, Jai Nelson, who will be responsible for divvying up the county’s share of property taxes, will Hart become more prompt in paying his property taxes?

14 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

Phaedrus on June 24 at 3:31 p.m.
That’s it, this guy needs to go!

(Or maybe his girlfriend Jai Nelson will grant him a property tax appeal?)
Wes on June 24 at 3:51 p.m.
You think Mr. Hart will introduce a bill in the Boise that let’s all of us pay the state when and if we damn well feel like it.
fortboise on June 24 at 4:09 p.m.
The “funny” thing is, his tardiness serves no apparent purpose. The only statement he’s making is one of incompetence.
Phaedrus on June 24 at 4:14 p.m.
C’mon “Harties” come out and defend this scofflaw; prove you have no shame.
Sisyphus on June 24 at 4:16 p.m.
The article is uncharacteristically confusing since its actually a home he doesn’t own but is in a trust in his daughter’s name. I’d be very interested for Betsy to discover who actually paid the taxes because that may indicate whether he’s deliberately keeping this residence and other property he owns from satisfying his tax obligations.
kamm on June 24 at 4:46 p.m.
You know how you shouldn’t stare at a train wreck when you’re driving but you find you can’t keep your eyes off the mess?

Well, this guy is a train wreck and I just can’t look away.
hmoffsuite on June 24 at 5:07 p.m.
Soaf >> “You think Mr. Hart will introduce a bill in the Boise that let’s all of us pay the state when and if we damn well feel like it.”

We already have it and all are enitled to follow the law. It is absolutely stupid to be paying the interest and penalties on these things. I fault him more for his stupidity more than anything else. If you want to pay late, go ahead Soaf. All you have to do is pay the penalties until you lose your place.
Soaf on June 24 at 5:12 p.m.
Try reading for comprehension HMO.

I was responding to Wes’ comment…………… With sarcasm I might add.
sue on June 24 at 8:55 p.m.
I agree wholeheartedly that Hart is a crook. Don’t people go to jail for such deliberate tax evasion? Seriously, isn’t this along the lines of Al Capone? If I have to pay my taxes, then hart should pay his, property and income tax. And what property is it that hart is evading paying his taxes on? Is it his daughter’s? Are local prosecutors afraid of this guy? The more the real story comes out, the weirder it gets. Where are his principals now? Maybe they’ll enlighten us.
fat_lady_sings on June 24 at 11:05 p.m.
As long as Hart remains in office, his salary, budget for staffers and all other monetary reimbursements should be debited from his tax debt before he receives a dime. Start with state debt, then the county then the federal tax debt. You should not be able to dip out of the funds that pay your bills if you have not paid what you owe. That is the ultimate conflict of interest/hypocrisy. Taking money from the taxpayers when you don’t believe that taxes are constitutional or legal. If you don’t want to be a part of the system then back it up with actions.
scootermom on June 25 at 8:28 a.m.
At least he’s consistent.
sue on June 25 at 8:34 a.m.
Do you suppose he has a sales tax resale number, and skates on that also?
Arch_Druid on June 25 at 9:22 a.m.
A couple of letters came to my attention published in the S-R and the CDA Press. The one in the S-R by Janet Callen of Coeur d’Alene shared much in common with others on this thread her opinions of Hart’s tax cheating ways. Including an opinion that I have held that Hart is simply a freeloader. And we all know how the GOP hate freeloaders.

Uh, got news for Ms. Callen, guys like John M. Clark aren’t opposed to Hart’s freeloading ways. In fact, Clark seems to be of the opinion that as long as Geithner (who worked for both GOP and Dem administrations and only screwed up his tax forms for example) didn’t pay his taxes [correctly]; if Hart has to resign then so should Geithner. Obama was not however discussed as any sort of “tax cheat” during his 08 campaign. Or you can be sure the news media would have piled all over it as the latest scandal. But Clark thinks he should resign as well. Really? Don’t seem to think that Geithner, Obama, etc. that Clark cited in his letter “refused to pay their taxes” out of a political opinion that the 16th amendment was fraudulently ratified. But that has been Hart’s problem. Can’t blame the Dems for Hart’s problem.
aerodynamic on July 02 at 11:39 p.m.
As to the question: I suspect there’s nothing Hart wouldn’t do for Nelson. I’d be more concerned however, that Spencer will by association (with Nelson) get to run KC. She owes him big time for her win! Birds of a feather?

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D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.