Guinn wants more timely tax collections from agencies

Thursday, Dec. 9, 1999 | 10:01 a.m.

Guinn complained the Department of Taxation has waited as long as eight months before collecting state taxes due on $5 million and $6 million estates.

"I'm going to get more aggressive," he said during a Wednesday meeting of the state Board of Examiners.

The vow came as Guinn, Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa and Secretary of State Dean Heller discussed a proposed policy on the state collection of debts.

Budget Director Perry Comeaux told the three board members there is not even a requirement for state agencies to send letters demanding payment from companies that owe money.

The new collection policy is scheduled to be adopted by the board in January.

Guinn said he was concerned by testimony during the Legislature that the state has lost up to $60 million a year in uncollected taxes. Legislators were told by Taxation Department executives that the additional money could be collected if they hire extra accountants to audit businesses more frequently.

Guinn also said he is alarmed that 20 state agencies ignored requests by state Controller Kathy Augustine to reconcile spending and receipts for their agencies' bank accounts and turn the correct information over to her.

"Twenty people didn't respond," Guinn said. "Some of them are handling thousands of dollars in their own accounts."

Unless the agencies quickly comply with Augustine's requests, Guinn said he would force them to do so by issuing an executive order. He added he also would close down their bank accounts.

Among the agencies failing to respond were the University and Community College System, the Department of Transportation, the Consumer Affairs Division, the Risk Management Division and the state museums in Las Vegas and Carson City.

Without the bank account information, Augustine said her office - which oversees state spending - has no way of knowing what is in the accounts of the state agencies.