Hide Article Text (OCR)
Page 16 — AIKEN COUNTY RAMBLER, Thursday, November 26COUNCIL SUED . . . (Continued from Page 1)that the delay in sending out personal properly tax notices this year -- attributed to lack of personnel in the auditor s office -- has cost the county and schoo' district considerably in terms of interest they might have earned on investments.Such taxes on vehicles, boats and trailers amount to about 85 or 86 million annually.The personal property tax digest has not yet been completed, although it is usually turned over bv the auditor to the treasurer in August for the mailing of the tax forms in September.General tax forms were mailed out in September, but those for personal property may not be mailed until the first of the year.Both officials appeared a number of times before council during budget preparation outlining their needs for additional personnel. George Wi Ilia ms told a work session of council of an overload at his office entailed by the new motor vehicle registration law. He said members of his staff were working to the point of exhaustion.Council, at the time, was working almost nightly to try to pare expenditures from the budget, so a tax increase would not be necessary, or could be kept to a minimum. The panel finally ended up with a 19-mill increase.Margie Plunkett, just prior to adoption of the budget in July, warned council that she would be in violation of the state statutes if all tax notices were not sent out in September.The complaint filed by the Columbia attorney asserts the treasurer needs 12 full-time employees, whereas the office has been provided with 5 full-time employees and 5 part-time.Office space is termed inadequate by 50 percent, and office equipment inadequate for minimum efficiency.Further, the treasurer asserts she needs a computer service “which the defendants have refused to furnish.Auditor Williams cites a need for 8 employees including a field auditor. The complaint asserts council has refused to furnish funds for more than 5 employees, which does not include a field auditor.“Office equipment now being fur-complaint stales.The auditor further contends that on-line computer service with the CSKA Computer service is necessary.Both plaintiffs assert the salaries paid their employees are inadequate and not comparable to the responsibilities those employees carry out.A reply must be filed by the
Newspaper Details
Aiken County Rambler
Aiken, South Carolina, US
Thu, Nov 26, 1981
Page 12
Full Page
Clipped by
Abbe R.
SC, USA 19 Jun 2024
Other Publications Near Aiken, South Carolina
Aiken Daily Mail
Aiken County Rambler
Aiken County Register
Aiken County Journal
Aiken Standard
