MOHEGANS LATE PAYING TAX BILL AT PALMER

Mohegan firm late on taxes
Saturday, June 06, 2009
By NANCY H. GONTER
ngonter@repub.com
PALMER - The Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, which hopes to build a casino on 152 acres here, paid its quarterly tax bill 28 days late.

The check for more than $16,000 was received on May 29 and was due on May 1, according to town treasurer Melissa L. Zawadzki. The Mohegans were sent a demand notice $172.94 for the 14 percent interest and fees owed because of the late payment and paid it on Thursday.

The payment was made before the notice was received, but on the same day that inquiries were made by The Republican.

Paul I. Brody, vice president of development for the Mohegan Sun, said the late payment was made because in Connecticut there is a 30-day grace period to make the tax payment and Mohegan finance staff did not realize that did not exist in Massachusetts.

The Mohegan Sun casino is located in Uncasville, Conn., and leased the land between Thorndike Street (across from Massachusetts Turnpike Exit 8) and Breckenridge Street starting in October 2008 from Northeast Realty Associates LLC of East Longmeadow.

The plan is to build a $1 billion resort casino, but the state Legislature must first legalize gambling, a move which it is expected to consider in the fall.

Leon H. Dragone of Northeast Realty said the lease, which is for 50 years with optional extensions of 25 and then 24 years, calls for Mohegan Resorts Mass LLC to pay the taxes for the property. He said he was not aware of any late payment.

Zawadzki said the late payment was for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009. The Mohegans were charged 14 percent interest, plus a $10 fee for each of the four parcels, and a demand notice has been sent out.

Brody said the Mohegans will make timely payments in the future.

"We'll clean this up," Brody said.

"We will update our system so payments will be paid much earlier," Brody said.

The Mohegans paid their Feb. 1 tax bill on time, but their Nov. 1 tax bill was a few weeks late and they paid a interest and fees for being late, Zawadzki said.

EDITORIAL FOOTNOTE: How come the payment was late? This is the way the MYGA (the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority), the Mohegan Tribal Council does busniness? A multi)PMohegan firm late on taxes
Saturday, June 06, 2009
By NANCY H. GONTER
ngonter@repub.com
PALMER - The Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, which hopes to build a casino on 152 acres here, paid its quarterly tax bill 28 days late.

The check for more than $16,000 was received on May 29 and was due on May 1, according to town treasurer Melissa L. Zawadzki. The Mohegans were sent a demand notice $172.94 for the 14 percent interest and fees owed because of the late payment and paid it on Thursday.

The payment was made before the notice was received, but on the same day that inquiries were made by The Republican.

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Paul I. Brody, vice president of development for the Mohegan Sun, said the late payment was made because in Connecticut there is a 30-day grace period to make the tax payment and Mohegan finance staff did not realize that did not exist in Massachusetts.

The Mohegan Sun casino is located in Uncasville, Conn., and leased the land between Thorndike Street (across from Massachusetts Turnpike Exit 8) and Breckenridge Street starting in October 2008 from Northeast Realty Associates LLC of East Longmeadow.

The plan is to build a $1 billion resort casino, but the state Legislature must first legalize gambling, a move which it is expected to consider in the fall.

Leon H. Dragone of Northeast Realty said the lease, which is for 50 years with optional extensions of 25 and then 24 years, calls for Mohegan Resorts Mass LLC to pay the taxes for the property. He said he was not aware of any late payment.

Zawadzki said the late payment was for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009. The Mohegans were charged 14 percent interest, plus a $10 fee for each of the four parcels, and a demand notice has been sent out.

Brody said the Mohegans will make timely payments in the future.

"We'll clean this up," Brody said.

"We will update our system so payments will be paid much earlier," Brody said.

The Mohegans paid their Feb. 1 tax bill on time, but their Nov. 1 tax bill was a few weeks late and they paid a interest and fees for being late, Zawadzki said.


EDITORIAL FOOTNOTE: So this is how the MTGA pays it's bills? Late? On Sixteen Thousand Dollars? Are you kidding me? Paying late is okay? Who on the MTGA (the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority the Mohegan Tribal Council) is watching the store? Is this more poor management? Should these people go? Are some of the Tribal Council up for re-election? Can we (the Mohegan Tribe) afford to keep these people? Are they doing a good job for us? What do you think?