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Griffin pledges cooperation
BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER
MONTEREY - "I would like to pledge to you my intentions to avoid being late in giving assessments to your clerk in tax year 2008," wrote Highland County Commissioner of the Revenue Bobbie Griffin in a letter to Monterey town councilmen sent last Thursday.
"However, I do expect to apply to the Virginia State Tax Commissioner on or about July 1 for the extension," she continued. "I will see that your clerk is properly supplied with a copy of my extension request and a copy of the approved extension from Richmond."
In October, Monterey Mayor Janice Warner filed a written complaint with the county board of supervisors about the lateness of personal tax information from the commissioner of the revenue's office. Warner recommended disciplinary action, including a possible deduction in income, for turning the report in late.
Griffin pleaded her case before the board of supervisors Oct. 10, who convened a special meeting to consider the town's complaint.
Supervisors told Griffin and Warner they would keep a closer watch on deadlines in the coming year.
After the Oct. 10 meeting with supervisors and Warner, Griffin filed an extension for this year, which was granted by the state. She passed tax information to the town Oct. 12. The state requires tax information be given to the town by Sept. 1, unless an extension is granted.
"Again, I pledge to you my desire to have an amicable relationship with your council and present to you the required information from my office in a timely manner," Griffin wrote.
She said her deputy, Angela Crigler, would be resigning at the end of the year. Griffin praised Crigler for her time with the commissioner's office.
Griffin also said this would be her last term in office as commissioner of the revenue.
"I would hope that the next four years can work out better for me as I endeavor to fulfill my duties of re-election and hire a new deputy to work with your clerk and all the other governmental offices," Griffin concluded.
Griffin offered several suggestions to the town, including finding a way to run tax tickets through the Bright system used by the county, amending its vehicle license card so it clearly states the vehicle was owned in Monterey on Jan. 1 of the current tax year instead of just asking if it was owned Jan. 1, and maintaining a stack of Forms 762 (Virginia Personal Property reporting form) at the town clerk's office. She said taxpayers are required to report their personal property to the commissioner of the revenue between Jan. 1 and May 1 of the current tax year. She said without the forms, it was difficult to determine from DMV records where a taxpayer lived and garaged their vehicle.
Griffin later said while there was no penalty for not submitting a personal property form to the county, it would help her keep tax records straight and aid both the town and taxpayer in ensuring personal property was properly taxed.
Griffin also reminded the town that she can make abatements or supplementals for up to three years after the information is given to the town, which may cause problems for the town because it is on a separate computer system.
Council tabled discussion of the letter until its January meeting.
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