A decision on a three-year long tax appeal by East Kansas Agri Energy Ethanol Plant could be coming as soon as tomorrow. A hearing tomorrow could close a lawsuit filed by the plant regarding how much tax they owe and the plant’s assessed tax valuation. They have paid their taxes under protest since 2016. But the agencies that have received the money from those property tax levies have mainly held the funds in reserve to pay all or a portion of it back should the eventual appeal go in Agri Energy’s favor. Garnett City Manager Chris Wiener says the city has escrowed $570,000 to repay a possible appeal decision. According to County Clerk Julie Wettstein, Anderson County, which receives the bulk of the tax benefit from the plant, had blanked some 1.4 million in a reserve fund pending the resolution of the appeal. USD 365 Superintendent Don Blome says the district has no escrow, but would make the funds up with contingency funds. A decision from the hearing is scheduled by District Judge Eric Godderz tomorrow in Anderson County Court.
