A demonstration against fines, taxes, and the withholding of licenses by almost fifty business owners and residents on Monday increased tensions in Harvey.
Pastors were incensed about a Harvey law forcing churches to obtain business licenses, proprietors threatened to withhold their licenses if they did not pay at least $2,500 in a penalty for overdue property taxes, and locals opposed an increase in water rates.
Before the monthly meeting of the City Council, demonstrators marched from Transformation Community United Methodist Church to the municipal headquarters.
Together, residents and business owners chanted “Stop the extortion” and “Where is the money?” as they demanded an investigation of Mayor Christopher Clark’s administration and its financial activities.
One of the organizers, Benecia Gonzalez, the owner of a Harvey business, claimed that the chants were a reaction to settlement deals given to companies that owed money on their property taxes.
An ordinance prohibiting companies that owe property taxes from operating licenses was passed by the City Council in January.
According to Clark, the city receives 52% of its revenue from property taxes, and some companies have avoided paying property taxes for as long as 20 years. This results in a $25 million annual loss in tax revenue for the city, of which $12 million is from past-due property taxes.
According to Clark, unpaid police and fire department pensions are another reason the city loses 35% of its sales tax revenue to the state. This problem he claims he inherited from his predecessor.
Tensions in Harvey escalated on Monday after almost fifty company owners and citizens demonstrated against penalties, levies, and the withholding of licenses.
Pastors were furious about Harvey legislation that required churches to get business licenses; owners threatened to revoke their licenses if they failed to pay the minimum $2,500 in late property tax penalties; and residents objected to a hike in water prices.
Demonstrators marched from Transformation Community United Methodist Church to the city hall prior to the monthly meeting of the City Council.
Residents and business owners united to demand a probe of Mayor Christopher Clark’s administration’s financial dealings, chanting “stop the extortion” and “where is the money?”
licenses
The owner of a Harvey company and one of the organisers, Benecia Gonzalez, asserted that the chanting was a response to settlement offers made to businesses that owed money on their property taxes.
The City Council enacted an ordinance in January that forbids businesses that owe property taxes from obtaining licences to operate.
Clark claims that property taxes account for 52% of the city’s revenue and that some businesses have evaded paying property taxes for up to 20 years. The city loses $25 million in tax revenue annually as a result of this, of which $12 million comes from past-due property taxes.
Clark says that the city loses thirty-five percent of its sales tax revenue to the state because of unpaid pensions for the police and fire departments. He says he got this issue from his predecessor.
