Barry owes $277,000 in back taxes

WASHINGTON, March 26 (UPI) -- District of Columbia Councilmember Marion Barry owes the U.S. government more than $277,000 in back taxes, officials said Thursday.

The Washington Post reported that Barry, a former mayor of the city, has not made a payment on the money he owes since July.

Barry, 72, is on three years probation for failing to file tax returns from 1999 through 2004 and for not paying most of the taxes owed on more than $500,000 he earned during that period.

Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to revoke Barry's probation for tax offenses because he did not file his federal or local tax returns for 2007 in a timely manner.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah Robinson has scheduled a hearing on the matter for April 2.

Barry, who recently underwent a kidney transplant, has said his health problems had distracted him from filing his taxes on time.

The newspaper noted that the Internal Revenue Service is garnishing $1,350 every two weeks from Barry's paycheck. As a City Council member, Barry makes about $92,530 a year in salary.