Spotsylvania News
Jeff Branscome writes about Spotsylvania County.
Spotsylvania Treasurer Larry Pritchett Speaks Out About State Spending
County Treasurer Larry Pritchett and the Treasurers’ Association of Virginia wants the state to stop paying a private firm to collect taxes.
According to Old Dominion Watchdog, the Association says Virginia pays a private firm too much for tax collections. The members say this work can be done in-state.
In fiscal year 2009, CGI collected just 15 percent of the delinquent taxes it was assigned by the state and retained nearly one-third of the collections for payment. Out of $237 million in unpaid taxes, the global company collected $37 million and held onto $11.5 million.
Hanover County Treasurer Scott Miller said treasurers, who are Constitutional officers, can help the state get a better return on the investment.
Pritchett agreed:
In the wake of falling state revenues, the state should be paying Virginia’s 128 localities, and not CGI, to collect taxes, says Spotsylvania County Treasurer Larry Pritchett.
“The state works very hard at collecting it, but they’ve reached a point where they don’t have the staff to collect it, either,” Pritchett said. “We feel very strongly that we can be a partner and help the state collect these outstanding taxes. They just need to give us the opportunity.”
That opportunity could be beginning next month, when tax officials plan to meet with treasurers to discuss doing another pilot. Richard Dotson, assistant commissioner of compliance, says he wants more data showing such a partnership would be as beneficial as the treasurers say.
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http://MAVRICKinc7@msn.com Martin (Marty) Work
