A tax tribunal case between Harbor Shores and the city of Benton Harbor will continue. At a Monday meeting, the city commission rejected a settlement with Harbor Shores regarding its 2017 and 2018 assessments. The golf course wants its taxable value adjusted lower. The settlement, if accepted, would have caused a loss of about $33,000 to the city. The city assessor warned commissioners the fight could drag out for years with little chance for the city. Mayor Marcus Muhammad liked the situation to “an indecent proposal.”
“It’s unfortunate that now that the course is maturing, we’ve had, I believe, four Senior PGA events, and now all of a sudden the city is being confronted and faced with a ‘Do this, or we’re going to do that’ type of proposition,” Muhammad said.
Mayor Pro Tem Duane Seats wondered why entities that have already been given tax breaks by the city then seek more tax relief. Commissioner Sharon Henderson called it a “shame, shame, shame.” The deadline to take the settlement was Monday, and now the golf course property in the city will have to be re-appraised. The matter remains with the state tax tribunal.
