GILROY
– Bonfante Gardens and the county tax assessor’s office are in a
disagreement over complex property tax laws that if unresolved
could cripple the already financially strapped horticultural theme
park’s turnaround plan.
GILROY – Bonfante Gardens and the county tax assessor’s office are in a disagreement over complex property tax laws that if unresolved could cripple the already financially strapped horticultural theme park’s turnaround plan.
Bonfante Gardens board President Bob Kraemer and Gilroy Mayor Al Pinheiro, who serves on the park’s board of directors, met last week with county tax officials and a county lawyer. They are trying to convince the county that Bonfante Gardens qualifies for massive property tax breaks since the park serves charitable and educational purposes.
So far, the effort – which got City Council and Gilroy Unified School District backing – has been to no avail.
County Assessor Lawrence Stone has concluded that Bonfante Gardens is primarily an amusement theme park – not an educational facility – and will only grant tax exemptions on a small portion of the property. The difference could spell hundreds of thousands of dollars of annual tax relief for the Hecker Pass park, a critical component of Bonfante Gardens’ comeback plan that has until this incident showed signs of consistent progress.
Ultimately, Stone concluded that more than 20 amusement rides, the video game arcade, seven gift shops and 11 restaurants cannot be exempt from property taxes without breaking California tax law.
Stone granted exemption, however, to four botanical gardens, four learning sheds, and the park’s famous circus trees.
As a nonprofit agency, Bonfante Gardens is already exempt from income taxes.
