The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-01-06
Urges Compelling
Payment of T0xeS
By April First
Tallahassee, Jan. 4, 1919.

Tallahassee, Jan. 4, 1919.
According to the State Auditor some
tax collectors have rot been comply
ing with the law, which law says that
tax collectors are required 10 make
all collections on or before the first
Monday in April and on or before the
first Monday In July. to make final
report and settlement to the Comp
troller and County Commissioners.
The State Auditor, J. Will Yon, be,
lleyes that the State and such coun-
ties are losing thousands Of dollars OF
revenue because these tax collectors
are not made to comply with the law.
The governor has the authority to see
that this law, as we'll as others, is
enforced, and Mr.. Yon has written the
following letter to the Governor call
ing his attention to the situation with
reference to delinquent tax rolls. and
suggesting to the Governor that he
cause all rolls to be closed out and
settlements made in all counties by
the first Monday in July:
Governor Sidney j. Cats,
THE Capitol.
Dear Sir:-Referring to my sug
gestion Of recent date that lou write
all county tax collectors of t. State
that they will positively be re, red
to close out their 1918 tax roll I'D
make final reports and settlement
with the Comptroller and County
Commissioners on or before the first
Monday in July, as they are required
to do by Section "a, of Chapter $685.,
Acts Of 1907.
"As I have stated to you, am sure
this will be of great benefit and save
the State and counties thousands OF
dollars If all the tax collectors are
positively required to close UP 1918
roll and all other rolls as required, by
law. Section "a, referred to-, con-
tains the following language:
"The tax collectors are required to
make all collections on or before the
first Monday in April; and on or be.
fore the first Monday in July they are
required to make a final report and
settlement with the Comptroller and
County Commissioners.
Section Al of the same act reads:
"All taxes shall be due and pay
able on the first day of November Of
each and every year, or as soon there
after as the assessment roll may come
into the hands Of the Tax Collector, of
which he shall give notice by publ
cation, and the Tax Collector is here
by vested with the power and it shall
be his duty to collect by levy and sale
OF the goods and chattels, lands and
tenements assessed, all taxes that
remain unpaid on the first Monday in
April
"As stated to you, you would be do.
ing splendid service II you would
handle this matter in such q way as
would cause all tax rolls to be closed
up and final settlements made with
the County Commissioners and Comp.
troller not later than the first Nor
day in July as required by law. As
Chief Executive, you have the author
ity to see that the laws are carried
out, and 1t is for this reason that I
have referred this matter to you, and
Tor the further reason Of saving the
State and counties thousands of dol.
lars by the enforcement of the law
with reference to the time allowed
for the collecting of taxes and the,
closing out of tax rolls. 9so a.,
Thousands of dollars in the aggres
gate OF taxes on personal property
are lost If not collected when due fer
the reason that such property, for
the most part, is movable, and the
longer time 1t is allowed to run over
the more it is moved away, and the
taxes assessed against 1t are lost 10
the counties and State. The majority
OF people in good faith come in and
lay their taxes whether real or per-
sonal, within the time allowed by law
10 pay taxes. 1t Is not fair for the
taxpayers who have acted in coed
faith and paid their taxes as required
by law, for the Tax Collector to le,
the man who has Stunned his taxes
run along for several weeks, and
maybe several months, and as has
been the case in several instances in