A settlement agreement has been reached between the City of Auburn and Walgreens and Rite Aid over a tax dispute on three properties within the city.
City Council voted on Thursday to pay a $133,000 rebate to the pharmaceutical companies. While ultimately voting to accept the settlement, Councilor Jimmy Giannettino said he was not happy.
“This is just another example of corporate America stepping on the neck of middle-class America,” Giannettino said. “They build these buildings; they open these businesses, and when they don’t succeed, they shut them down and they become an eyesore.”
Rite Aid and Walgreens had challenged the property tax assessments at three of its locations – 314 Genesee Street, 47 East Genesee Street (currently the Veteran’s Administration clinic), and 153 Grant Ave – dating back to 2014.
