City of Santa Fe Files Liens to Claim Unpaid Lodgers Taxes

The city of Santa Fe has slapped liens on two hotels officials say are thousands of dollars behind on lodgers tax payments.

Documents show liens were placed Wednesday on the Casa Del Toro bed and breakfast and Western Scene Motel. Casa del Toro owes the city $19,920 in taxes and penalties. Western Scene is behind $2,542.

The city has also sent a letter to Garrett’s Desert Inn seeking payment on late lodgers taxes. Officials are also pursuing negotiations with several other businesses that could potentially yield around $200,000 in unpaid taxes.

“We have filed liens which is a really big step for the city. We’re starting to hunt down people for the debts that are owed,” City Attorney Geno Zamora said.

Casa del Toro owner Bruce Kuehnle said he wants to work things out with the city and will be contacting officials.

A message left for the manager of the Garrett’s Desert Inn was not returned. Management at the Western Scene Motel could not be reached.

Zamora said these are the first liens the city has placed on lodging businesses during his nearly three-year tenure at the city. However, Zamora couldn’t say for certain if this is the first time the city has taken this kind of action, noting a lien might have filed on a hotel a decade or so ago.

The effort stems in part from a resolution recently passed by the City Council that seeks to inventory all debts owed the city – including fines, fees, citations, taxes and other obligations – and come up with a plan for getting the money.

Zamora said delinquent lodgers taxes are among the first debts the city is going after.