Letter to the Editor

Citizens shouldn't shoulder burden of IRS fiasco

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

To the editor:

It is now approaching a time when the citizens of Blytheville must make a crucial decision concerning the payroll tax debt owed by the city to the IRS. Tuesday, March 13, 2012, they must decide on a proposed 1-cent sales tax increase which will span over a 15-month period and be used for the repayment of this debt.

At this point, the administration that presided at the time this debt was incurred has not taken responsibility for this act of negligence. More is at stake for the citizens than an increase in taxing or other proposed measures to pay for this debt. The integrity of those we elect to ensure the smooth operation of our city is also being measured. Any official elected to office not only assumes a legal but also a moral obligation to the office for which he is elected. These positions require at least a basic knowledge of operational procedures to maintain adequate functioning of the governmental system, whether it be city or at any other level.

All of us who are old enough to know anything about taxes know that when you owe taxes and don't pay them some tax collection agency will track you down and give notice of adverse actions that will be taken if these taxes are not paid. In this instance, since the taxes that were not paid are a federally mandated tax, the IRS is the agency involved in dealing with the city of Blytheville. Most adults already know that the IRS has a reputation for dealing stringently with those who do not pay their taxes. When you are late or just don't pay them, they impose penalties and interest as well as require the principal sum owed. In addition, they have the authority to put liens on and confiscate assets owned by the debtor. You can almost be assured that these same officials paid their personal taxes, including income, real estate and personal property.

I have yet to hear anyone say who decided to stop paying these government mandated taxes or why the decision was made knowing eventually the IRS would find out and there would be severe repercussions. Perhaps those responsible knew that they would no longer be in office and felt that this would be an issue the next administration would have to deal with. This is partially true, because the current administration now has to decide how this debt will be paid.

Our whole system of government was built on the principle of accountability. The laws that are passed and enforced are meant to assure us that we must be accountable for our actions. When we make poor choices, regardless of our intent, we have to pay for the decisions we made which caused negative results.

Moreover, I am even more concerned about the example being set and the message relayed to our younger generation. Are we telling them that when they make conscious choices which produce negative results it is someone else's responsibility to "clean up their mess"?

The debt is only one aspect of the resounding effects of non-payment of this tax. The individual retirement accounts for city employees will also be affected. The IRS, as a collection agency, dispense these taxes to the appropriate federal agency which will eventually route to the Social Security Administration to post to the employee's individual accounts.

No doubt some of these employees will retire before this debt is paid which will result in a shortage in their benefits which is based on the amount of funds in their individual accounts.

The proposal of an increased tax or even cuts in city employees or raising water bills does not result in accountability for the ones who created this fiasco. It's called "passing the buck," and at the least, even if the tax proposal passes, the citizens deserve some accountability from the responsible parties who, by the way, can afford an increase in taxes more so than the average citizen. We as citizens should not be solely responsible for absorbing this debt. I will not vote for an increased tax nor am I in favor of any other measure that places the burden completely on the citizens. Laws and legislation only work if they are enforced.

Lillie Lucas
Blytheville