Bernero campaign treasurer owes $91,000 in property taxes

The treasurer for Lansing Mayor Virgil Bernero’s campaign committee for his bid for governor owes $91,000 in overdue property taxes, reports the Lansing State Journal.

Charles Moore tells the paper he has made arrangements to pay the money owed, but has “been a victim of the economy.”

Moore owns 24 properties in the Lansing area, and all but one are rentals. He says occupancy has been down during the economic meltdown and he has been hit by the credit freeze Bernero has been railing about. That freeze, Bernero has said in speeches, is the result of lending institutions “red-lining” Michigan — that is refusing to make credit available to Michigan businesses.

Moore also contests the amount of money owed, telling the paper he recently paid Ingham county $27,000, which he says makes his actual back taxes only $64,000.

As campaign treasurer, Moore is responsible for making sure campaign reports to the state are filed on time.

Campaign spokesman Jamaine Dickens sent an e-mail to the paper saying only: “Mr. Moore is not immune to Michigan’s current economic climate, and like many residents, sometimes find it hard to make ends meet. What’s important is that he has made the necessary arrangements to rectify this situation in the next 60 days.”

This is not the first time that some one linked to Bernero has had property tax issues. In November, Tina Houghton, a recently elected city council woman for the city’s second ward came under withering criticism when it came out she had not paid her taxes. One resident even sued the city in an attempt to prevent Houghton from being seated on the council. An Ingham County judge allowed Houghton to take her seat, after the back taxes were paid.

And in recent weeks, members of the city’s Ethics Board have come under scrutiny for back taxes.

The Lansing City Charter prohibits citizens who owe income or property taxes to the city from being seated.

As a result of a joint investigation by City Pulse newspaper and WLNS television in Lansing, the city is currently conducting an internal investigation into appointees and tax payments.