The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-11-29
PUT TAX COLLECTORS
UNDER STATE COMM'R
Is Suggestion of Commissioner Plumley
to Wipe Out Much of the S23o0oo
Local Taxes Uncollected
Each Year.


Calling attention to the fact that there
is annually about $23O,0O0 in uncollected
taxes in the cities and towns of Vermont,
State Tax Commissioner Charles A.
Plumley of Mortified suggests as rem
edy for such unsatisfactory conditions
the enactment of an amendment to the
present law which viii place the local
tax collectors under the direction of the
state tax commissioner. Mr. Plumley
sets forth his idea in the following state
ment:
''As commissioner of taxes, have been
called upon repeatedly to advise town
officials as to how to proceed, practically,
to cover into the treasury of the town
the outstanding, uncollected delinquent
taxes turned over to collectors and ear
ried from year TO year as an asset, until
eventually abated.
While outside my duty, as imposed by
law, ! took it upon myself ito make an
investigation of the situation and found
that the average total amount of uncol-
lected and delinquent taxes due the
towns and villages of this state as of
March /, 1916, 1917 and 1918, respective
ly, is S230,000. You will agree that such
a situation should not exist.
you see by reason of the fact that
these taxes are uncollected and the pro-
ceeds are not turned into the treasury
the towns are borrowing money and con.
sequently losing money and running into
debt. Concrete examples could be given
were it necessary, but story of $230,000
worth of delinquent taxes annually,
speaks for itself
Under the law, as it now exists. the
collectors are supposed to collect the
taxes, report to officials designated by
statute, and for their failure to proceed
according to law an extent may be is
sued. In my report to the legislature
have suggested that if failure to collect
the tax is due to any defect or irregular
ity in the grand list, such defects or ir.
Irregularities can be corrected, and should
be; if the situation is due to lax business
methods, or lack of knowledge of the
rights, powers and duties imposed upon
and resting in the collectors, then the
situation is susceptible Of being decidedly
improved. The remedy ] suggest lies in
an amendment to the existing law au.
thorizing and empowering the commits
sioner of taxes to supervise the work Of
the collectors, to hold meetings for in
structions, and to have certain necessary
and incidental powers in the premises.
my idea, briefly stated, is that the
collectors in the several municipalities
should report to the commissioner of
bn nf ln1ts
turned over to them for collection when
the same are turned over to them; that
at stated intervals thereafter they should
report the amounts of uncollected taxes
still in their hands, with reasons, if any,
why the balance is not collected or is I'M
collectible. If the report shows any ir-
regularity or defect in the grand list, the
commissioner of taxes could readily ad
wise the listers as TO how to proceed to
correct and legalize the list; if it de-
velops that there is neglect Of duty on
the part of the collector, then the com
missioner of taxes ought to have author
ity to apply for the issuing of an extent,
etc, etc.
81 am convinced that central super
vision of the collection of delinquent
taxes will correct the situation to very
great extent. The very fact that super
vision is lodged in some central author
| ity in itself will be effective
There is no purpose on my part to
usurp or interfere with the prerogatives
of the towns but to act so as to aid them
in the efficient enjoyment and exercise
thereof. My proposition comprehends
the education of the tax collectors as to
thSr duties and supervision of them in
the performance thereof to the end that
the towns, directly, and the state indi.
rectly, may benefit thereby.
II have written to town clerks, select
men and listers concerning the proposed
plan and have discussed the matter with
good many town officials who are con
versant with existing conditions / have
yet to find one man who has not com.
mended the idea II is not, however
reasonable to suppose it will be univer-
sally accepted. 1t win be opposed un-
doubtedIy, but on what sound, economic
basis, cannot foresee."