Comments for HB 356: The Democratic Plan to put over $1 billion back into the budget – without raising taxes at http://www.tondeestavern.com , comment 1 to 4 out of 4 comments http://www.tondeestavern.com Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:34:45 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.tondeestavern.com/200902101088/hb-356-the-democratic-plan-to-put-over-1-billion-back-into-the-budget-without-raising-taxes.html#comment-777 From Dave Bearse: "Third, State level collection ostensibly is more uniform and subject to better oversight. Many local governments are poorly run, and lack the economy of scale to efficiently collect sales taxes." How wrong could you be! The Georgia Department of Revenue is so understaffed that there is no way that each regional office can keep up with the thousands of clients they must track. I have friends in private businesses that have to put up with the Department of Revenue contacting them each year with claims that they owe tens of thousands of dollars in sales tax. And each year they contact the Department of Revenue office and the person (note I wrote person) there throws up his hands and states what a mess the collection system in Georgia is. - TheBigGumbo Tue, 16 Mar 2010 02:53:23 +0100 http://www.tondeestavern.com/200902101088/hb-356-the-democratic-plan-to-put-over-1-billion-back-into-the-budget-without-raising-taxes.html#comment-530 I am aware of a lock company in Lawrenceville, who three years ago was trying to sell of subdivision locks and they made quite a point that we would not have to pay any sales taxes. I could not get the State to even investigate. - capecoral Sat, 11 Apr 2009 02:04:16 +0100 http://www.tondeestavern.com/200902101088/hb-356-the-democratic-plan-to-put-over-1-billion-back-into-the-budget-without-raising-taxes.html#comment-270 I don't understand. How exactly are sales taxes NOT being collected? Is the Dept. of Rev. not doing its job? Then fix it! Surely privatization would be much more costly. What can a private for-profit company do that a state agency couldn't do for non-profit? It kind of stinks. I'm sorry. Inevitably, taxes are going to have to be raised. - Supersteve Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:13:22 +0100 http://www.tondeestavern.com/200902101088/hb-356-the-democratic-plan-to-put-over-1-billion-back-into-the-budget-without-raising-taxes.html#comment-218 Your knowledge of the state's budget is no doubt superior to mine, but with all due respect Rep Fludd, your assertion that this legislation will generate over $1B in new state money seems exaggerated. It's my understanding that the sales tax brings in on the order of one-third of the state's revenue, roundly $7B (1/3 of $21B). You imply that the state fails to collect 15% of sales tax revenue? (or say 20% considering that local collection will collects three-quarters of what is not now being collected) Second, if privitization is so much more efficient, why not privatize the state's collection process? Third, State level collection ostensibly is more uniform and subject to better oversight. Many local governments are poorly run, and lack the economy of scale to efficiently collect sales taxes. There are more than a dozen Georgia Counties with populations of 10,000 or less. I wouldn't want last year's Lithonia government responsible for collecting state taxes. The bill to me is another means for local pols to reward their favorites. Last, this proposal smacks of the GOP's idea of local control, i.e. local control when the GOP has only local control. - Dave Bearse Sat, 14 Feb 2009 07:14:16 +0100