UPDATE- BEATING HARTFORD TAXES ... ARENA STYLE

If nothing else was learned from the Tiger Woods scandal by anyone in the public eye, it should be this, tell the truth up front and move on. Lies and untruths have a way of being proved false very easily.

After seeing the copy of a tax bill that Sean Arena faxed to the Courant. I decided to check and verify that the information was accurate. According to the Hartford Tax Collector's Office, it is not.

According to the Tax Collectors Office's records, the tax bill in question does not show Sean Arena anywhere on the account for James Holcomb. Printouts from the "Munis" system are below. (Munis is the City of Hartford's software program). Officials in the Tax Collector's Office stated unequivocally that Sean Arena was absolutely not listed on the Holcomb tax account.

Arena did cut a lucky break though courtesy of the "MUNIS" system. According to the Tax Collector's Office staff, widespread problems have occurred due to the outside vendor hired by the city for printing and mailing tax bills. Apparently numerous complaints have been received because tax bills are being addressed to the proper owners of the vehicle, and the Munis system for some reason is also adding the listed owner of the mailing address the bills are going to onto the bill also.

In the case of the bill faxed to the Courant, Jay Holcomb is the registered owner of the vehicle and since Arena is the owner of 79-C Morris Street, the MUNIS glitch also added him to the bill. A preliminary check with the Motor Vehicle Department also confirms that Sean Arena IS NOT LISTED on the registration for Holcomb's vehicle, CT Registration 879-WCT.

A call was made to Sean Arena for comment, as of this time he has not returned the call. If Arena is able to provide any documentation, such as a registration showing his name on it for the vehicle in question, I will gladly post that here.

Several people have called me in regards to what action the City will take to recover any revenue owed to the City of Hartford by the Arena's. I spoke with Hartford Tax Collector Marc Nelson and although he would not discuss a specific case or a specific individual on the record, he did outline the power given to him by Connecticut State law.

Nelson stated that under Connecticut law he is empowered to collect taxes on the Grand List. Apparently it is the responsibility of the Tax Assessor to investigate and place the untaxed vehicles onto the Grand List. At the time the Assessor places the vehicles on the Grand List, Nelson as the Tax Collector has 30 days to act and bill the vehicles accordingly. That would include any taxes, penalties, interest etc. The taxpayer would then have 30 days to pay the bill.

A word of advice to Sean Arena, tell the truth, reimburse the City for lost taxes , penalties and interest, register your vehicles in Hartford and move on.

PRINTOUT OF HOLCOMB'S TAX RECORDS

Holcomb Tax Records