Lowcountry NOW: Local News - Council revokes business license 10/06/04

Lowcountry NOW: Local News - Council revokes business license 10/06/04
Council revokes business license

Carolina Morning News

The town business license of R.H. Realty and Rentals Inc. was revoked Tuesday by the Hilton Head Island Town Council for failure to pay $73,470 in 2003 lodging taxes and delinquency fees.

Town Attorney Gregg Alford said the vacation rentals company owned by Robert Hosington owed $38,362 from collections of the town's 1 percent local accommodations tax and its 2 percent beach preservation fee on overnight lodging. Penalty fees total $35,108.

At a hearing in council chambers at Town Hall, Alford said Hosington had pleaded guilty in court to a citation for the unpaid fees and paid a $1,000 fine, but had not followed through on an agreement to work out a payment plan.

Hosington said his 27-year-old company was going through hard times, and he would like to arrange a payment plan. "I can get out of this problem if you'll work with me," he said.

Alford said he is seeking a court order to put the company in receivership until the debt is paid.

Hosington said his only asset is the Welcome Center on the mainland by the gas station just west of the bridges to Hilton Head. He said his company has four employees, down from a high of 40.