In typical Fellowship fashion, spokesperson Cynthia Hill is "intentionally insincere" (lies) and tells the reporter the crisis is due to winery "cash-flow difficulties."]
Excerpted from Marysville Yuba City Appeal-Democrat - September 30, 1995:
Jim Stevens, Sutter County's treasurer-tax collector, said the delinquency notices sent out by his office directly to taxpayers are more effective than spending a couple thousand dollars on newspaper ads.
"The only real purpose is it makes the public aware of properties that are in default," . Stevens said. "By chance, if the taxpayer looks at it, it notifies him as well."
Stevens said some taxpayers are worried about appearing on the list. "We have a few people that call in to try and find out what's owed to get it paid before it's published," he said. "It's a small percentage. It's a limited number of taxpayers who call in to avoid the publication."
Taxpayers have five years to make good on their delinquent accounts. They may take an additional four years if they agree during the initial five-year period to make payments as part of an installment plan.
The payments also must include accrued interest.
Statewide, 4.1 percent of secured property taxes - $930 million - was delinquent as of June 30, 1994, according to the state Controller's Office.
Yuba County had the fourth highest delinquency rate in the state at 7.3 percent, which amounted to about $1.6 million.
Sutter County matched the state average at 4.1 percent, or $1.5 million.
Sutter County's total secured property tax charge was $37.3 million, compared to Yuba County's $22 million.
Kennedy said Yuba County's delinquency rate has increased from 5.2 percent in 1991-92.
Most of the delinquent taxpayers owe just a few hundred dollars. Others owe sizable chunks.
The Fellowship of Friends in Oregon House had the highest tax delinquency in either county, owing about $166,000 as of June 30,1994.
Cynthia Hill, a Fellowship spokeswoman, said "cash-flow difficulties" at the Renaissance Vineyard & Winery caused the tax problems.
"The formula is simple: the more our winery earns, the more money goes to the state and county," she said. "We are working hard in both areas."
She said the fellowship paid about $2.8 million in property taxes on time between 1971 and 1993.
Although some taxpayers owe thousands of dollars and there were plenty of names listed -about 350 in Yuba County and 150 in Sutter County — it's rare when the counties don't collect the taxes eventually.
"In my 16-plus years, there's been three or four cases when we haven't gotten all our taxes," Kennedy said. "The amount is less than a thousand dollars total." In Sutter County since 1984, Stevens said, he's only had to sell two properties to recoup back taxes.
