Judge: Florida Can't Tax Seminole Electric, Rents
MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) —A federal judge sided with the Seminole Tribe of Florida in a dispute over tax collection.
U.S. District Judge Robert Scola said in a recent decision that federal law bars the state from collecting tax on electricity at the tribe's reservations. The state had argued in part that the tax benefits the tribe through such things as school construction projects.
Scola also ruled that Florida can't collect taxes on lease agreements the tribe has with companies that operate food courts at casinos in Hollywood and Tampa.
The state contended the tax was being properly applied to the non-tribe companies, but Scola said it was expressly prohibited by federal law if applied to the tribe's leases.
(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
RELATED CONTENT: