EPHRATA (CelebrityAccess) –- Live Nation might catch a break on property taxes at the Gorge Amphitheatre after Grant County commissioners reevaluated the property use at the venue.
According to local news source iFiber, Live Nation had asked that two parcels of land at the venue be included in a "current use" program that means lower taxes for the properties. iFiber said that the commission declined to add a 24-acre parcel, which includes the venue's stage to the program, but did include a larger 87.5-acre parcel.
The change means that Live Nation won't have to pay the roughly $350,000 in back taxes, penalties and interest owed on the property.
In addition, the commissioners asked county Tax Assessor Melissa McKnight to waive the roughly $180,000 in back taxes, penalties and interest the companies owe on the smaller piece of property. The taxes were incurred after the county removed four piecs of property from the current use program earlier this year.
Lawyers for Live Nation argued that the property is a public benefit and that the public uses the area to enjoy the view when concerts aren't taking place. – Staff Writers
