Government, Preston County

Tax bill for former Kinney Shoe property undecided

KINGWOOD — Preston Commissioners said they haven’t decided what to do about a tax bill for the former Kinney Shoe property.

In December, Assessor Connie Ervin told the commission she believes it should pay five years back taxes, plus 2018 taxes, on the building, now known as the Matthews Bronze Annex.

The bill totals $55,425, including 6 percent interest. Ervin said her research shows the county should have paid taxes on the building, during the time it was not under lease. Matthews was using the building at the time, but through an oversight by the county, no lease was in place and no rent was being collected.

On Jan. 31, in answer to questions from the newspaper, Commissioners Craig Jennings, Dave Price and Don Smith said they have not discussed how to resolve the tax bill, which will be issued in July.