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Century Car Plant Backers Owe Over $65,000 In Unpaid State Taxes; Failed To Pay County Tourist Tax
November 25, 2008
The company behind Project Green Leaf that plans to bring an electric car manufacturing plant to Century owe the state of Florida more than $65 thousand in unpaid taxes. And they failed to pay Escambia County thousands in county tourist development taxes.
LHS EV, Inc, owned by Jay and Nash Patel, applied for a $2.5 million grant from the State of Florida’s Renewable Energy and Energy-Efficiency Technologies program. The application was filed with the assistance of Escambia County just a few days ago.
Monday, it was revealed that the Patels’ motel company, LHS Pensacola, Inc., owes the Florida Department of Revenue $65,747.83 in unpaid sales and use taxes on four different Florida properties. There are four pending liens on the properties that were for $21,127.28; $20,339.76; $16,794.21 and $7,486.58.
The taxes are owed on the Patel’s Travelodge Inn and Suites, Days Inn North, Ramada Inn and Howard Johnson properties on Pensacola Boulevard. LHS also owns two hotels in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
In May, Escambia County filed a $2,001.86 tax warrant against the Ramada Inn and LHS Pensacola for failing to pay county tourist development taxes. That tax lien was satisfied by the company in July. Another $1,548.63 lien for unpaid tourist taxes by LHS for their Days Inn was filed in May by Escambia County and satisfied in July. Another $2,185.15 tourist tax lien was filed by Escambia County against LHS and their Howard Johnson in May and satisfied in July.
The Patels have told county commissioners that they have a line of credit worth over $34 million, but they have not named the bank that has extended the credit.
On November 12, LHS spokesperson Art Rocker asked the Escambia Commission for $2.5 million. Last week, LHS said it did not want the cash from the county, but rather $2.5 million in grants from the state.
The company says their plant, which will assembly an electric car manufactured overseas, would provided about 250 jobs in the first year, 585 within three years and ultimately up to 1,100 jobs in five years.
It has also been revealed that Rocker has a federal tax lien of $39,168. Click here for that story.
Comments
6 Responses to “Century Car Plant Backers Owe Over $65,000 In Unpaid State Taxes; Failed To Pay County Tourist Tax”
What is interesting is that the county didn’t do their homework on these guys either….someone dropped the ball at the county level…now if I owed just 1,000.00 in back taxes of any sort,I would be in jail and all I owned taken away in a heartbeat.Kinda makes you wonder doesn’t it?
The vehicle looks like a lemon more each time I hear about it…it is too limited and I do not see a big market for these vehicles…I would like to see if they have any buyers lined up for the initial production run…Does anyone know where or if we can see their presentation to the BOCC or a copy of their business plan?
If the Telsa out of California, with the deep pockets the owners have, is having as much trouble they are in getting their electric car to market, I can’t imagine the people behind this vehicle will make it. The vehicle isn’t really practical, and its range is very limited. It’d be an acceptable urban commuter, but its configuration isn’t ideal for that use, so what kind of market can there be for this vehicle. I’d strongly suggest any public money be spent on viable opportunities, or better yet set up a program that assist the small business start ups; businesses that overall hire more people in a region and more importantly, put more money back into the local economy.
Well, well, well. The more this “company” gets looked into; the worse it smells. I do believe that it is time to let them go to South Florida or some other place.
Is our local government so blind they cannot see what is at the end of this saga? Why are we so desperate for unproven people in this business venture that we are giving the barn away with tax dollars. I do not think there is any real intent for this to be a successful business. Get Century to “give” them what they want in terms of a building and land, no taxes, no rent, get miniority business owner governmental grants, tax breaks, get 2 1/2 million from the state, and other grants will come. Make a effort for two – three years or until the money runs out and then blame the economy for its failure. How much “real” investment money has or will the Patels and Rocker invest in “their” business. I see a left hook coming on the chin for the taxpayers of the state and Escambia County with this venture.
Yeah just what we all figured. The county and city government will be ignorant to the subject if they let this happen. Someone thats supposedly a well profitable company that cant even pay their taxes. Thanks but no thanks