SANTA ANA

The Community Development Agency will pay $35,000 in back taxes, fees and penalties so that the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, at 117 N. Sycamore St., can stay in business. The nonprofit center houses an art gallery and administrative offices. Center officials had assumed in 1993 that they were exempt from paying property taxes, but in 1998, officials were informed that they would have been exempt only if the then-unfinished building had been occupied by the nonprofit group. The county has been assessing penalties and fees on the taxes that were accruing. As a result, OCCCA is in default on the outstanding property taxes. Information: (714) 647-5400.