Feb

6

More government incompetence

February 6, 2005 |

A new Star investigation reveals yet another failure of the Jackson County government to perform its most basic function - collecting taxes. First it was failing to correctly assess and bill thousands of vehicles. Then it was years of handing out illegal tax waivers.

Now it’s 20 years of ignoring a state law that requires private airplanes to be registered and taxed along with other personal property like cars and boats - depriving schools, libraries, and hospitals of a big chunk of much needed tax revenue. Once again, we are the only county out of 120 that is having problems following state tax laws. And County Executive Katheryn Shields has handed another coffin nail to her opponents for the KC Mayor’s office in 2007.

But before those of you in the suburbs smugly congratulate yourself for fleeing the city for your biege fortress, keep reading the investigation and see that the problem is almost as bad in Johnson County, KS. In fact, it’s actually endorsed by a Kansas state law with a loophole big enough to fly the Spruce Goose through it.


Comments

1 Comment so far

  1. Hippster on February 8, 2005 11:28 am

    Ya, the city and county desperately need that money, and airplane owners should feel guilty for not shelling out even more money to our well-run local government. For proof, read http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/10841969.htm.

    But I do like the term “beige fortress.” That’s great stuff.

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