Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-17
by PAUL HOPE

~ tASS avs -
More vigorous tax collection
lin nearby Virginia is recon-
lmended in a report by q COM
mittee of the Northern Virginia
Regional Planning Commission.
The report is one Of a series
scheduled in a $4,000 fiscal sur
lvey paid for by Arlington and
lFaiffax counties and the cities
LOT Alexandria and Falls Church.
Among the proposed changes
lin collection methods and State
laws are these:
Use equity suits, rather than
ordinary tax sales, to recover
unpaid real estate taxes.
Seek authority to permit the
Governor to attach bank ac-
counts of delinquent taxpayers
Iwho have moved to other States.
This would be done by reciprocal
agreement among the States.
Hold military personnel liable
for Virginia taxes unless they
furnish proof they are legally
domiciled elsewhere.
Appeal to personnel directors
lof Federal agencies for help in
collecting taxes owed by en-
tployes,
Due Next Month
| The report is scheduled for
presentation to the commission
next month. Other phases Of the
survey will include comparisons
lof tax rates. types of taxes, in
tdebtedness. expenditures and dis
Itribution of State tax funds.
Lazlo 1. Ecker RACE of Arling-
lton is chairman Of the commits
Ision's fiscal survey committee,
The field work is being done by
iDr. Wylie fitzpatrick, a paid
lconsultant.
4. Edgar D. Smith is chairman
Iof the subcommittee which drew
Iup the report on tax enforce
Iment.
/ While commenting that North
lern Virginia tax collections
I"stack up" well with that of
.Iother parts Of the State, the
report noted need for improve
ment.
1 TOO many parcels Of real
ESTATE are delinquent" and per-
Isonal property tax collections
l'look acceptable only by COM
lparison with worse records and
mot because the Northern Vir-
lginia record Is satisfactory In
ITSELF" the report says.
On the whole, the percentage
Iof property taxes delinquent In
Northern Virginia decreased
during the period 1912 to 1854,
the report says. Alexandria s
dropped from 3.4 per cent delin-
quent In 1912 to as per cent in
l 1854: Arlington from go to 81:
Fairfax County from 90 to SIS
Falls Church delinquency rose
from 2.8 per cent in 1850 to
IL in 1854.
4 Ineffective Method
/ One Of the criticisms of Vir-
Iginia law reported by the COM
Imittee Is that the procedure fol
the sale Of property of tax deIin-
lquents sis ineffective" The time
land trouble of getting q clear
little to property in ordinary tax
tsales makes the procedure In
defective except to prompt the
taxpayer to pay his BILL" the re-
fport says.
The equity proceeding, the
same used in recovery of any
debt, is more expensive but pro-
Ivides q clear title and assures
prompt recovery Of taxes. the
report states.
Legislation Is urged to allow
equity proceedings against a
large number Of individual prop
critics to be grouped together
into one suit, thereby saving the
Iexpense Of multiple suits.
| Tax Spread Urged
The report recommends
spreading out due dates for va
lrious taxes through the year to
better synchronize the financial
calendar with revenue collections.
Involved are real estate, personal
property, business and profess
lsiona1 licenses and motor vehicle
taxes.
It was noted that recommen-
dations recently we're made by
the Virginia Capital Outlay
Commission for changing the
due date Of State income taxes
which now Is December s. The
fiscal committee is suggesting no
specific changes in collection
dates pending action Of the
General Assembly on the income
tax deadline.
The report suggests that other
jurisdictions study the possibility
lof moving up the real estate
tax due date TO August is, a
procedure already In effect in
Arlington. This would reduce the
lag between January ! assess
ment and the present payment
deadline Of December 5.
Semiannual real estate pay