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Editorials - 05/25/00Taylor has obligation to pay county property tax |
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A few weeks ago in this space, we urged citizens to go to the polls in the May 2 primary and exercise their right to vote. Not many took us up on it, as turnout in Jackson County was barely more than 12 percent.
One of the reasons cited for the low turnout locally, statewide and even nationally has been voter disgust with and mistrust of politicians. What's come to light in Jackson County the past few days won't help matters. The Jackson County tax collector's office has asked the general council of the U.S. House of Representatives to garnish the wages of Republican Congressman Charles Taylor so back taxes county officials say Taylor owes can be collected. The dispute is not a simple matter of whether or not Taylor has paid his property taxes. Instead, it revolves around whether the property is eligible for a tax deferment under a forest land use management plan. Cecil Dills, county tax assessor, says Taylor must file a detailed plan with his office to qualify for the deferment. Taylor's attorney says filing such a plan is not necessary. Taylor has known of the tax assessor's request for at least two years. We feel county officials have been more than reasonable in giving Taylor plenty of opportunity to file a plan as is required of other taxpayers who receive the deferment. Since this is an election year, politics has been injected into the equation. Prominent Republicans are pointing the finger at Sam Neill, Taylor's Democratic opponent in November. They say Neill and his "operatives" are behind the move to garnish Taylor's wages. This sounds more like a panic response than a reasonable argument. County commissioners charged the collector's office with collecting all delinquent taxes. In a number of cases, bank accounts have been frozen, and the money has come in. Taylor has no bank account in the county, leaving the garnishing of $141,000 in federal wages as another legal option open to them. Our elected officials should not receive preferential treatment. In fact, we should hold them to a higher standard than the average person. And speaking of the average person, many of whom do not bring home a six-digit annual salary, and yet they pay their taxes, making the necessary sacrifices. Has the congressman forgotten about them and the fact that he was elected by them? It's time Taylor met his obligation to pay the taxes he owes just as is expected from the rest of us. Besides the fact that it's the law, just doing what is right will give voters one less reason to distrust politicians. Pay up, Congressman. It will be the best thing for all concerned. Editorial policyThe opinions expressed on this page are those of the Sylva Herald Editorial Committee. Opinions are derived independently and owe no allegiance to any group, organization or political party. We welcome opposing views. |
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