GT (Glitch Topic) >> Computer Glitch Stymies New Ordinance-County Computer Can't Do The Math

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NOTE: This story is from February, 10. I did not see where it was ever posted, and I would like this to go on record in case it was missed. Thank you.

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Computer glitch stymies new ordinance -- County computer can't do the math

By LEE ANN PRESCOTT/Staff

A couple of computer glitches have conspired to ruin the county's newly adopted ordinance to raise tax penalties and interest, but the Smyth County Board of Supervisors has found a way to remedy the situation.

In August, the supervisors developed and adopted the new ordinance to encourage timely payment of taxes. At the public hearing Aug. 26, only one citizen attended to object to the increase. No one spoke to support it.

The ordinance is only applicable for delinquent taxes. It is supposed to increase the penalty to a 10 percent fee for failure to file a tax return, with a minimum penalty of $10.

The county staff tried to implement the ordinance, but its computers refused to make the change. The existing computer program will not accept the $10 minimum charge.

The supervisors also agreed to raise interest on delinquent real estate and personal property taxes from 5 percent to 10 percent. Real estate and personal property taxes are due Dec. 5. The penalty was to be a charge added to the tax total on Dec. 6 if the taxes were not paid. Then interest was to accrue monthly on that total at a rate of 10 percent.

But the computer program refused to begin calculating interest starting Dec. 6. It only knows how to add a month's interest at a time, beginning Jan. 1.

To follow the board's directive, the county would apparently have to buy a new computer program. However, since tax tickets must be prepared and mailed by Nov. 5, the county treasurer's office does not have time for a new program to be written so staff members can recalculate all 30,000 citizens' tax bills. The supervisors found they had no choice but to revise the ordinance so the county's computers can do the math. -SNIP-

http://smythnews.com/970920/i%2Darticles/fp%2D2.htm

-- Dee (T1Colt556@aol.com), February 20, 2000

Answers

Beware of computer calculations taking percentages of dollar figures, especially for taxes on goods and services--some of them appear to be calculating in an inaccurate manner, forcing people to pay more than they actually should be. For the record, I believe these problems are programming-related, not y2k-related. But the effect is the same: hidden extra costs.

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), February 20, 2000.

Thank you for your opinion on this Rachel. I appreciate it. =)

-- Dee (T1Colt556@aol.com), February 20, 2000.

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