Back tax bill could jeopardize track licenses

REVERE – City permission for Wonderland Greyhound Park to serve liquor, park cars and provide entertainment could be withdrawn if racetrack owners do not pay overdue property tax bills by Aug. 21.The License Commission meets Thursday at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber to review the status of Wonderland?s liquor, common victualers, entertainment and parking licenses.The track owes $789,293 in overdue property taxes dating back two years and $16,673 in overdue water and sewer bills. In a bid to collect the money, the city placed a lien on the track?s North Shore Road property in June 2007.If the money is not paid by Aug. 21, the commission could revoke Wonderland?s city licenses even as city officials move to take possession of the track.?They will be treated like any other taxpayer: No deals, nothing,” city Chief Financial Officer George Anzuoni said Tuesday.Wonderland President Richard Dalton last week called the city?s estimates of the taxes the track owes accurate, adding, “There won?t be a foreclosure.”Dalton also noted that the track in past years provided the city with a cash infusion during tough times by agreeing to pay taxes before the bills were due.But Wonderland has also faced foreclosure, most recently in 2004 when Anzuoni locked a stack of the track?s stock certificates in a safe until the track paid its bills.Under state law, the city has authority to take the track and the land it is on for non-payment of taxes. This seizure process would take at least a year and involve review by the state Land Court.For Wonderland, being in tax arrears is just another development in a time of economic uncertainty.The track employs 350 workers including many Revere residents. Its bid to get legislative approval to host slot machines has fallen short despite claims of a revenue bonanza for the city and the state.A campaign by animal protection advocates to ban dog racing.