High Court: Greek Property Tax Constitutional, Cutting Off Electricity Isn't

Demetris Nellas - The Associated Press

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A Greek high court ruled that a controversial property tax imposed last year by the government on homeowners and charged through their electricity bills is constitutional, but cutting off the electricity for nonpayment is not, court officials said Friday. The Council of State, Greece's highest administrative court, heard the case brought by several professional and citizens' groups last November and ruled Friday, according to court officials. The decision was taken by a "very large majority," a court official said on condition of anonymity, because the ruling has not been formally announced.
The imposition of the tax last September had raised an outcry in crisis-ridden Greece last year, but despite widespread calls for disobedience, the government has collected more than €2 billion ($2.64 billion) from the tax, which homeowners paid in two installments.