The struggling Pittsburgh Athletic Association in Oakland has paid $55,000 towards taxes it owes the county for the 7% drink tax, preventing a scheduled sheriff's sale Tuesday morning at the iconic Fifth Avenue social club.
The Allegheny County sheriff's office was set to auction off furniture, paintings, kitchen equipment and a liquor license to satisfy a judgment for not paying the drink tax from October 2015 through August 2016.
The PAA made the payment Monday evening, according to Mike McCabe, solicitor for the county treasurer's office.
The club signed a consent judgment for taxes still owed from September 2016 through March 2017, he said.
The PAA will be responsible for any taxes determined to be due and owing in excess of the $55,000, plus any and all court costs, sheriff's fees, locksmith charges and the treasurer's audit fee," McCabe said.
The county had seized the club's liquor license and scheduled the sheriff's sale in March because of the delinquent drink taxes.
The once prestigious club has sunk deep into debt in recent years amid declining membership and mounting bills. It has defaulted on a $2.6 million mortgage and owes hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid local, state and federal taxes and other bills.
