Guest post: Stupid Franklin County government twits
Nummer Vier | Wikimedia Commons
Note from Dan: The headline above is Ritchie Duffy’s, not mine. Having owned one of the watches he’s talking about, years ago, I can understand the mistake he made. Should he have to pay for that?
By Ritchie Duffy
Today I realized that I did not pay my real estate tax and personal property taxes by the 12/5/11 due date. My wrist watch has a calendar which told me today is the 5th — the due date, so I wrote a check and proceeded to the treasurer’s office to do my civic duty.
On the way I stopped and checked my cell phone, for assurance of the date — today is the 6th — a day late. How did this happen?
My watch displays a calendar, unfortunately based on a 31 day month. November has 30 days and I had failed to re-set the calendar on 12/1 – my bad – my calendar is off by one day. I called the treasurer’s office and was told — too bad — you have incurred a 10% penalty.
They told me that if I had mailed the check yesterday it would have been fine. I asked if today’s mail had arrived yet and was told that it had not. I said I will drive to your office, hand you my tax payment, and you will be able to log it in even before it would have arrived by USPS, had I mailed it yesterday.
The treasurer, a very rude individual, told me that this is unacceptable. I tried again to reason with her, and told her that according to the statement on my tax form, that I can wait until the end of June 2012 to pay and will incur no further penalty, so why pay it now?
She said that I should be grateful that there is no interest due from 1/1/12, as was the former policy. I then told her how grateful I am for that act of kindness. Rudely and condescendingly, she refused to allow me to pay my taxes, less than 1/2 day late and avoid the penalty. Keep in mind that my check would be in her hands before the USPS would deliver yesterday’s mailed taxes.
So I told her I will be there on 6/29/12 to pay the due amount plus penalty. She was quite happy to allow me to delay my payment of taxes until 1/2 year from now.
I worked in the business world, managing people and budgets for more than 30 years and have a graduate degree in business administration — my experience and my education taught me that money today has more value than future money — apparently our county treasurer never received that training.
Later I contacted the Commissioner of Revenue, who was very polite, but told me that the treasurer controls this issue. I explained the treasurer’s rudeness and unwillingness to work with a citizen, and she was politely apologetic.
This reminds me of why so many citizens feel so strongly in a negative way toward government. It’s not just the federal or state government that people abhor — local governmental people who are so inflexible and rude deserve our ire as well.
If this is the way local governments perform it is no mystery why we have the financial problems that most local, state, and the federal government have.
December 9, 2011 - 8:00 AM
And that ladies and gentlemen. Is one side of the story. Lots of shoulda, woulda, couldas floating around here.
Sorry Mr. Duffy, I’m with the County Treasurer on this one. If you watch TV, read a newspaper, look at a calendar or turn on your cell phone you should have known the date.
He’s exactly right…once they’ve leveled their 10% penalty, there’s no rush to run out and pay it. I had a similar situation this summer with a car I bought last spring. If you’re not accustomed to the personal property tax concept, you assume you’ve paid all taxes due at purchase. And, you’d be wrong about that.
Time for a new watch.
Mr. Duffy sounds like the twit in this one.
I have to side with the County Treasurer on this one, too. Sure they could have allowed you to pay without the penalty, but where would they then draw the line? That line is very clear at the moment: Taxes are due on 12/5. I would suggest that next time they are due, you plan on paying them a week ahead of time instead of at the last minute.
The treasurer has a law to enforce. The law says payments received in the office in person by end of business 12/5 or received by mail postmarked by end of day 12/5 shall be considered on time. If the trteasurers office accepted Mr Duffy’s payment a day late with no penalty, then who’s to say they shouldn’t accept mine 2 days late with no penalty or 5 days late with no penalty or 30 days late with no penalty. After all I might be the tresurers personal friend or have a personal contact in the treasurer’s office. There is too much potential for abuse if the treasurer does not enforce the written guidelines. Mr. Duffy you screwed up, you owe the penalty, you have to pay it. If you want to wait until 6/29 and the ordinance allows it, then that’s your choice, but don’tblame the treasurers office because you screwed up.
I would drop the envelope in the mail a day late. Chances are they are not checking postmarks.
Sorry pal. Pay your taxes on time.
Calling people who are doing their jobs rude and condescending, and trying to get them into trouble with their superiors, because you screwed up, is childish and immature. No, low-level workers who are enforcing very reasonable rules do not “deserve our ire,” they deserve our respect for having to deal with self-important blowhards who think they don’t have to play by the same rules as everyone else.
Seldom do I agree with Dan’s regular posters, but in this case, they’re absolutely correct. I’m no supporter/defender of government, especially where taxes are concerned, but in this case, Dave is spot-on. It seems you need to man up and realize that all this could’ve been avoided had you paid on time.
You sound like someone whining to get out of a speeding ticket because someone cut you off, you had to get to a bathroom, you were late to a job interview yadda yadda… Even if the judge/magistrate/clerk/officer was rude, it doesn’t negate the fact that you broke the law. How many criminals do we let go because the cuffs were too tight?
If you were treated rudely, then that certainly needs to be addressed, but your treatment in no way negates the fact that you were late.
Maybe take C Daddy’s advice and pay a bit early going forward. If you’re willing to skate so close to the deadline, don’t be angry when the ice gives way.
Here’s an idea: Sue the Pontiac Watch Co. for failing to make a watch that would tell you the correct date!
I’m a fan of vintage watches as well, but you can bet that I look at a more reliable calendar from time to time.
It’s not as though government workers are given much in the way of latitude to make exceptions and act independently. Calling her a “twit” is a little over the top for someone who is just doing her job.
Oh come on….really? This “dog ate my homework” excuse is laughable. The article seems to have been written by a fairly intelligent individual but the story and “excuse” is laughable to say the least. I can’t imagine the gut-busting excuses this dude offers when late for work or an appointment. Lord help him at Daylight Savings time.
I can see the date getting away from you; I know in Bedford County, they do not send out the second notice for part 2 of your real estate tax and only send one envelope with the notice that is due in June. If you need to split the payment, it is on you to remember the second payment is Due Dec 5. I understand a deadline, but his point about the mail that they WOULD accept not even being there and still refusing his payment without penalty was petty and there is no way around that.
I have been paying Personal Property Tax on a vehicle I traded in July 2009, it is STILL on my tax bill and I pay it rather than call and be subjected to their attitude. They “work for us” but you sure would not know that if you have a question or do not understand something. I have dealt with the Roanoke City Treasurer and Comm of Revenue with the same belligerent results. They never admit a mistake but are happy to make you pay dearly for one. Try paying for dog tags, it has yet to be a smooth process.