Spansion still owes millions in local property taxes

As of late Wednesday, flash memory maker Spansion had failed to pay more than $8.6 million in property taxes owed to the City of Austin, Travis County and the Del Valle ISD, according to Dusty Knight, Chief Deputy Tax Assessor for Travis County. On Monday, the company’s Japanese division declared bankruptcy.

 

According to county records, Spansion owes Del Valle ISD $5.2 million, the City of Austin more than $1.4 million, and Travis County nearly $1.5 million. The Travis County Healthcare District is owed $240,000 and ACC $337,000.

 

Holly Burkhart, corporate spokesperson for Spansion in California, said Wednesday, “I have not heard of this.”

 

In addition, DRH Austin Owner Ltd., owner of the Renaissance Austin Hotel, still owes more than $1 million in taxes, according to county records. Jefferson at Falcon Ridge Ltd, owner of an apartment complex at 500 E. Stassney, has yet to pay $552,000 in property taxes and West Jefferson Ltd. Partnership owes $521,000.

 

Software maker Oracle USA also owes but has not paid $621,000.

 

Knight said his office had been waiting to declare property taxes delinquent until they were sure that checks had not been simply gotten delayed in the mail. Spansion is the largest taxpayer that still owes money, but about 1500 property owners each still owe more than $10,000 in local taxes.

 

Travis County will be sending out around 35,000 delinquency notices to property owners who have not paid their taxes, Knight said. He added that those with the largest bills could also expect a phone call.

 

Knight said the county has collected about 95 percent of what is owed. “We’re about one-half percent behind last year’s collections, which adds up to around $13 million.” If the large delinquent taxpayers had paid their tax bills, Knight said “we would be exactly identical to last year.”