FORT SMITH - Business owners with unpaid taxes in Sebastian County have reason to be afraid. Judith Miller, the county collector, is going after them with the full force of a new law
Bradrick's Grocery is one of many businesses on the list that no longer exist. Miller says the county will simply have to write off the loss. But there are hundreds more that can still be collected for. Her office is putting people on notice and placing calls.
"I can go to a business and give them a warrant and say we're gonna close your business unless you pay your taxes," Judith Miller told 5NEWS. "We can actually sell their inventory on the spot right then."
Sebastian County collector Judith Miller means business. Her office was owed more than 800 thousand dollars when she was first elected. They've collected about 150 thousand of that.
A mining company owes Sebastian County more than 300,000 the problem is they're now bankrupt the collector plans to file a claim, but she says there isn't likely to be any money left. Part of the problem is, many of the businesses on her list no longer exist. More than likely, they'll just have to write it off as a loss. Act 555 went into effect in August and gives Arkansas' county collectors unprecedented power. They can send the sheriff with a warrant that gives the business 60 days to pay. Otherwise, inventory is seized and sold. Miller says the money is important.
"That affects your schools your fire departments your police departments and your cities. So it's a big factor that you're hold money away from them when we don't collect."
The collector says she's close to issuing a warrant on Spray Rite, Incorporated after they missed a scheduled payment last month. The owner told 5NEWS that won't be necessary. The business owes more than 14 grand. The owner said they'll pay $2,000 to get back on track. Crazy Earls owes more than $8,800 and is cutting a check for $500 a month. Chaffee Liquors owes $1,900 and is paying $200.
Sebastian County's collector hopes to have everything up-to-date by next October. Meanwhile, Benton County collector, Gloria Peterson says her office is owed more than two million dollars in delinquent dollars from 2008. Businesses including Allen Canning, Pre-Formed Line Products, Smurfit-Stone Container, Fleet National Bank, and Odom Equipment account for more than $600,000 of that amount.
Bradrick's Grocery is one of many businesses on the list that no longer exist. Miller says the county will simply have to write off the loss. But there are hundreds more that can still be collected for. Her office is putting people on notice and placing calls.
"I can go to a business and give them a warrant and say we're gonna close your business unless you pay your taxes," Judith Miller told 5NEWS. "We can actually sell their inventory on the spot right then."
Sebastian County collector Judith Miller means business. Her office was owed more than 800 thousand dollars when she was first elected. They've collected about 150 thousand of that.
A mining company owes Sebastian County more than 300,000 the problem is they're now bankrupt the collector plans to file a claim, but she says there isn't likely to be any money left. Part of the problem is, many of the businesses on her list no longer exist. More than likely, they'll just have to write it off as a loss. Act 555 went into effect in August and gives Arkansas' county collectors unprecedented power. They can send the sheriff with a warrant that gives the business 60 days to pay. Otherwise, inventory is seized and sold. Miller says the money is important.
"That affects your schools your fire departments your police departments and your cities. So it's a big factor that you're hold money away from them when we don't collect."
The collector says she's close to issuing a warrant on Spray Rite, Incorporated after they missed a scheduled payment last month. The owner told 5NEWS that won't be necessary. The business owes more than 14 grand. The owner said they'll pay $2,000 to get back on track. Crazy Earls owes more than $8,800 and is cutting a check for $500 a month. Chaffee Liquors owes $1,900 and is paying $200.
Sebastian County's collector hopes to have everything up-to-date by next October. Meanwhile, Benton County collector, Gloria Peterson says her office is owed more than two million dollars in delinquent dollars from 2008. Businesses including Allen Canning, Pre-Formed Line Products, Smurfit-Stone Container, Fleet National Bank, and Odom Equipment account for more than $600,000 of that amount.
