Sound Politics: Wasted Government Expenditure

March 26, 2007

Wasted Government Expenditure

Remember that snafu with the property tax rolls in Snohomish County? A couple large properties were left off the rolls, requiring minor adjustments to the tax bills just sent to property owners across the county. In the case of taxpayers whose bill is paid by the holder of their mortgage - like this writer - no update was even necessary since the financial institution would receive the corrected version electronically anyway before the bill was paid. Never fear, County Treasurer and candidate for County Clerk, Bob Dantini is making careful use of taxpayers' money.

My corrected "bill" arrived recently. The huge change in my annual tax bill that supposedly required the County spending $130,000 to send such unnecessary notices, with Dantini's name liberally applied: $1.33. If this move is supposed to be Dantini's way of demonstrating how effectively he'll manage the shop if he changes offices this November it would be wise to look for another candidate to support.

Posted by Eric Earling at March 26, 2007 07:24 AM | Email This

Comments

1. Mine was $.24, and the postage to send it was $.29. Go figure.

Posted by: lynne on March 26, 2007 07:30 AM

2. Mine was a stunning $1.80 which has changed my whole financial strategy for the year! In addition, since I pay my taxes myself, the country saw fit to send me two new envelopes as well, just in case they hadn't already wasted enough money fixing a non-problem! (Is there no one in Everett who had enough common sense to mail out a simple postcard noting the change in amount and telling people that if they overpay in April, their amount due in October will be adjusted accordingly?!)

Posted by: suzihomemaker on March 26, 2007 07:51 AM

3. Eric- There is a typo in the heading of this post ("Governmnet"). In the spirit of this post, I expect you to mail a paper correction to all readers of SoundPolitics. Thank you.

Posted by: Bruce on March 26, 2007 09:33 AM

4. Good catch Bruce. LOL

My problem is I paid the full amount. What happens to the $1 and change I can get back? Does it carryover? Do I lose it? Do I have to spend $25 of my time to apply for a refund? Do I call like thousands of others and waste $5 of staff time?

They could have send an explanation of how to get the money back or where it was going.

Posted by: swatter on March 26, 2007 09:42 AM

5. Swatter- I'm sure the answers to your questions will arrive in your mailbox shortly.

Posted by: Bruce on March 26, 2007 09:45 AM

6. Bruce, each letter I got from the multiple properties, including personal property on my business, had postage of 29 cents plus envelope plus processing. Heck of a deal.

Posted by: swatter on March 26, 2007 10:11 AM

7. Thanks, Bruce...it's fixed. And yes, I'll get to work soon on that mailer.

Posted by: Eric Earling on March 26, 2007 11:31 AM

8. I threw my 1st one away....but it was only about $3 or so difference.
I remember thinking at the time....why not just create a credit rather than rebill??

I suppose legally Bob Dantini was not allowed to do this. I would hope that is the case!!
Someone ought to check on whether or not LEGALLY his only option was to rebill??
If not, he ought to be canned.

Posted by: Mr. Cynical on March 26, 2007 04:25 PM

9. And let us not forget that they knew they were wrong before they mailed the original statements, but mailed them anyway.

And this dimbulb is running for Clerk? Oh well, it is hard to do worse than Pam, who just this week agreed to keep the court records in HER office which she is legally required to do, rather than in the AOC's office, a creation of Judge Wynne. How convienent. Keep your own records....illegally.

But wait, there's more! The corrupt Snoho pols and judges are not going to have a record of some superior court proceedings in the future.

Is Aaron Reardon the only honest pol in Snoho gubmint?

The Geez

Posted by: The Geezer on March 26, 2007 08:49 PM