When the Mayor of Winchester was informed that litigation against Charter Communications had been successful, she was elated, but it didn’t last long.
“I knew it was only step one because we’ve been through this before,” said Mayor Gail M. Winham. “We've won before but they keep going to court and we keep winning.”
The City of Winchester was one among 118 counties that sued Charter Communications for non-payment of taxes some 10 years ago.
"Our city is run in a very efficient way," said Winham, who's served as mayor since 2005. "We take care of our residents, our population, and our streets and we feel it's important for Charter Communications to pay their fair share of taxes."
On Jan. 27, a St. Louis County circuit judge ordered the cable and telephone company to pay $39 million in back taxes, according to media reports.
“Charter Communications keeps appealing and they keep losing every appeal,” Winham said. “I believe they will appeal this judgment, too.”
Although Charter Communications only owes the city of Winchester $17,000, Winham said there are other counties and cities that are owed a lot more.
“Every city gets whatever their portion would be and a lot of cities banded together,” she said. “We get very little because we're a small city of a population of 1,500-plus but cities like Chesterfield and Ellisville will get a whole lot more.”
The class award timeframe spans from July 9, 2005, to Dec. 22, 2020. Attorneys will receive 25% or $9,657,427, according to the class award summary.
"It's important we get whatever we're owed in taxes, not more and not less because to run a city, you need money," Winham added. "If you don't want to increase taxes on your residents or their obligations to you, you have to find as many legitimate ways as you can to raise revenue."