House Bill 486

Chair's Name: Larry O�Neal

Committee: Ways & Means

House Sponsor: Wendell Willard

Currently, county tax commissioners can be hired by municipalities to collect municipal taxes.  A fee is given to the county for this service, and tax commissioners are compensated by the county for their service, but these county tax commissioners may also enter into a separate contract to receive compensation above what the county is being paid.  The Ways & Means substitute to HB 486 allows the county to set the compensation for that tax commissioner, so that there is only one contract � between the county and the municipality � rather than two contracts, by eliminating the possibility of another contract between the county tax commissioner and the municipality.

The Ways & Means Committee Substitute received a Do Pass and comes to the House Floor as a Rules Substitute under the Structured Rule. 

Chairman O�Neal�s opinion of the committee substitute:

WHAT IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THIS LEGISLATION?

To allow the county to set the compensation for the tax commissioner, so that there is only one contract � between the county and the municipality. This will ensure that municipalities do not feel forced to provide additional compensation to the county tax commissioners, who are elected as full time employees and compensated accordingly.

THIS LEGISLATION:

• Increases Personal Responsibility:

This bill will help to ensure that county tax commissioners do not take advantage of their positions to supplement their income at taxpayer expense.