Officials Plan to Sue Gary School Board Member for Back Taxes

School district said it recently closed six schools because of funding woes

Officials in Lake County said they plan to file a lawsuit to recover more than $566,000 in back taxes owed by a school board member in Gary, Indiana.

Marion Williams admitted to owing the debut but said he won't pay it because he's a victim of the city's depressed real estate market and because some of the properties he owned were divided among his ex-wife and children.

The properties are among thousands of abandoned or dilapidated properties in the city, which has a 42 percent collection rate contributing to the school district's $23.7 million budget deficit.

Gary schools Superintendent Cheryl Pruitt declined comment.

Lake County Treasurer John Petalas said many of Williams' delinquent properties are scheduled to go on auction at his annual tax sale later this summer.

Without the money owed by Williams and others, the school district was recently forced to close six schools.
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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