[Vision2020] Media Watch: Taxes

[Mushroom]

Idaho government faces great budget constraints, so one
cutback has been in the number of tax collectors. Presently
21 positions have had to be left unfilled.

Wouldn't filling those positions produce a lot more revenue
than it would cost to fill them? If you think the answer is
yes, you're realistic. But likely to be depressed by
following what goes on in Boise.

Both the Spokesman and the Trib ran stories about the
situation this morning. The Trib story was properly credited
to the Associated Press, the Spokesman story (the same one)
wasn't. The Trib story ran longer, but failed to offer this
revelation:

Some 12,000 people a year simply refuse to file Idaho tax
returns and they are home free, "because the tax commission
doesn't have enough staff to pursue them."

An estimated $88 million in back taxes is owed to the state.

Yeah, if you are on a payroll you pay your taxes because
they are deducted. If you aren't on a payroll, you
apparently have quite a bit of influence with the governor
and the legislature. (Latah County legislators have
supported investing some money in tax collectors in order to
get a whole lot more money back. The governor and
legislative leaders haven't.)

Don Coombs