The Topeka state journal., 1914-01-15
Get ALL The CASH
Accountant Kincaid VIII Audit
County Records.
Starts Investigation Of Tax and
Fee Collections.
DOUBLE CHECK on OFFICIALS
New Method of Handling
States Business.

SG8Ce>O BUSINESS
Meets Approval Auditor and
f' Tax Commission.
Accounts OF Kansas counties with
the state are to be checked in an e!-
fort to determine whether the state IS
receiving from the los counties all
that is due in taxes and fees. Inc
new policy was announced TO-DAY py
Jasper Kincaid, state accountant. IL
u the first time in the history OF the
state that a state department has un-
dertaken a thorough checking OF the
county records.
Z Irregularities in state tax accounts
with Kansas counties have for years
caused worry and trouble among state
department heads. The question OF
delinquent taxes each year causes
more or less trouble and now klncalo
proposes to conduct an investigation
Of the tax accounts in each county. IL
is not, he explains, that there is de-
sire on the part Of any county not TO
make full and complete remittance to
the state, but the method OF handling
the states accounts have in some IN
stances not been looked after with as
much zeal as was shown in local az
cites several instances where re-
checking of the tax and fee accounts
have resulted in added revenue to the
state.
Recently Kincaid took up the ques-
ton of a county audit In a conference
with State Auditor Davis and MEM
bers of the state tax commission. All
of them approved the plan which the
account proposes to put in operation
In reviewing the tax and fee trou-
bles, Kincaid cites the recent instance
of one county where a re-checktng OF
the tax account resulted in securing
remittance Of more than $1,000 In
state taxes. The money had been col
lected and was in the hands Of the
county treasurer, but the treasurer
made a mistake in appOrttoning the
money and only the rechecking of the
tax collections resulted in securing the
money.
Another county was ordered to in
crease it's valuations to meet the tax
levy and place its valuations in ac-
cordance with corresponding valua-
tions in adjoining counties. But the
county clerk and commissioners did
not increase the valuations. Instead,
county in order to meet the amount
of state tax to be raised.
Still another county appealed to the
state to rebate four or f1ve years of al
legged delinquent tax collections. But
there was no schedule filed with the
state showing the properties on
which taxes had not been paid and
the demand was not met.
These matters, Kincaid believes,
should be Strengthened out and q
more accurate investigation made Of
the manner in which state taxes are
collected and handled.
Then there is the matter Of fees.
fees from the clerks Of the district
courts. Not once has the state made
an investigation as to the amount of
these fees. Kincaid proposes to do it.
Would Change Tax Law.
Following out his line Of investiga-
ton the state accountant proposes to
ask for an amendment to the present
law governing the sale Of real estate
sold for taxes. Under the existing
law. the manner of disposing of this
property Is largely In the hands of the
county boards and there is a uniform
method of procedure except under q
somewhat broad general law.
Possibly the state has always re-
ceived its full share Of delinquent tax
money. Kincaid does not say it has
not. But the loose policy of handling
the tax business in some counties has
occasioned more or less unrest and in
the future the state will keep a de-
tailed and accurate account of all
business with each Individual county.
Not only will the accountant check
the matter of taxes and fees from the
clerk Of the court, but also the fees
from the sale of hunting licenses and
automobile licenses. The state treas
urer and auditor are checked in han
ding these items and Kincaid pro-
poses to keep a double check by in
vestigating the actual fees collected in
each Of the counties.
The new policy is not a presump-
tion that there are irregularities or
that full remittances are not made -
said Kincaid. 1T is just a matter OF
business that doesn't seem to have
been looked after. We check books
Of the state officials in regard to these
matters and no one thinks anything
about 1t. Every one realizes that it is
proper. So. why not keep a double
check by auditing the accounts of the
officials in the various counties?"
Kincaid will make his first check
of county records in an Investigation
Of the 1913 tax collections and is now
preparing blanks to be sent to the
various officials. In cases where there
are disputes about collections or paw
ments, a special accountant will be
sent to the county to make special in
vestigation.
TnV A IsTTR n n mn