Tax Revenue to Kirbyville School Now in Question

By: Monte Schisler, News Director
Posted: Sunday, January 22, 2012

More information may be released Monday, but the Kirbyville School District says there could be an error in the tax revenue it’s received from Taney County the last several years.

In a news release from the school superintendent over the weekend, the school has been advised by Taney County Collector Sheila Wyatt of suspected errors regarding tax distributions between 2001 and 2011.

The news release said the school is cooperating fully with the county.

The school says until it has an opportunity to fully examine the matter and the explanations being offered by the Collector’s office for the suspected errors, it will not take any action which might present a hardship to its students or staff or handicap its operations.

The news release sent to HometownDailyNews.com directed further questions to a St. Louis Law firm that is representing the school district.

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More information may be released today, but the Kirbyville School District says there could be an error in the tax revenue it’s received from Taney County the last several years.

The news release sent to HometownDailyNews.com directed further questions to a St. Louis Law firm that is representing the school district.

Press Release

From: Kirbyville R-VI School District

Date: January 20, 2012

Kirbyville R-VI School District confirms that it has been advised by the Taney County Collector of suspected errors made by the Taney County Collector’s Office regarding certain tax distributions made to the School District for the tax years 2001-2011. The Kirbyville School District has consulted with legal counsel and is investigating this situation. District officials did advise the Collector’s Office in prior years of perceived anomalies in tax distribution checks received by the District from the County Collectors Office. Kirbyville School District is cooperating fully with the County. However, until the Kirbyville School District has the opportunity to fully examine this matter and the explanations being offered by the Collectors Office for these suspected errors, it will not take any action which might present a hardship to its students or staff or handicap its operations.

Comments (13) - comment on this story

Wait a minute.... - 01/23/2012 7:12:41 AM

I believe if I were the Kirbyville School people I would tell Mrs. Collector we tried on numerous occasions to point out something wasn't right. It appears it did little good. Now is the time to tell the County we didn't make this mistake, you figure out how you are going to pay Hollister to correct this. Doesn't the Collector operate under a Surety Bond....maybe its time to collect on it.

Kirbyville resident - 01/23/2012 7:24:24 AM

I hope the county doesnt try to get back money from our school that was their mistake! I was over taxed for 9 years and when taken to the board of equilazition i got no refund.

RE: Wait a minute - 01/23/2012 8:00:43 AM

The Collector has nothing to do with payment to schools. This mistake was made by the Clerk's office. Collector is only trying to make right what the Clerk has wronged for 10 years. I would say your Surety Bond needs to be tested on the Clerk's office.

Wait a minute again.... - 01/23/2012 9:48:18 AM

Maybe I don't understand what this press release says: Kirbyville R-VI School District confirms that it has been advised by the Taney County Collector of suspected errors made by the Taney County Collector’s Office. Looks clear enough to me. Why would the Collector admit to errors you say the Clerk made? If my memory serves me correct the County Clerk is responsible for voter registration and elections.

What - 01/23/2012 1:09:50 PM

Why would the Clerk's office be involved w/ school district tax assessment money. As a tax payer and parent I feel that the County, whoever it may be, should be responsible. Maybe someone should talk to Mr. Paulson, I believe he was both County Attorney and a school board member when those abnormalities were pointed out to the county. In closing what about the audits that have been performedat the county by an outside auditing firm. Someone needs to be held responsible and that should not be the kids of one of the best school districts in the state!!!!!!

The Truth - 01/23/2012 2:46:39 PM

What about the money our Collector currently owes the taxpayers for over payment to her salary that was contested in court and she lost. I think it's time she pay that money she wasn't entitled to back to the county.

Sue - 01/23/2012 3:28:35 PM

Sue the software company for the mistake, it is theirs to own. Let Kirbyville keep the funds they already have, and take the proceeds from the lawsuit and give to the other schools.

RE: County Clerk Comment - 01/23/2012 4:41:35 PM

The Clerk's office calculates the amount to be collected and distributed to the schools and then charges the Collector to both collect the correct amount and distribute the correct amount. The Clerk's numbers have been reviewed and they are accurate.

Auditor - 01/23/2012 4:43:39 PM

Both Taney County and Kirbyville School have auditors, why didn't they catch the problem.

Both Taney County and Kirbyville School have auditors, why didn't they catch the problem. - 01/24/2012 2:46:08 PM

It called incompetent isn't it? Ten years, same mistake, no one sees it. Reassuring isn't it?

Both Taney County and Kirbyville School have auditors, why didn't they catch the problem - 01/25/2012 7:34:07 AM

The amounts were actually questioned several times over the years.

bob - 01/27/2012 5:21:01 AM

resign or fire

I'm a little confused here?? - 01/27/2012 3:16:58 PM

To my knowledge the clerks office has nothing to do with this @ the person accusing the clerks office for the screw up... The clerks office in this county is supposed to be in charge of voting(precincts,ballots,etc) and jury duty issues... the collectors office is just that... the tax collector, which, in this case, taxes were collected from tax payers and then distributed erroneously... I believe the taxes are distributed from the collectors office and not the clerk... The assessors office is the other entity that could be called into question perhaps for not assessing or doing his job right... which could potentially create a problem in the collectors office.... In this particular instance though I believe the collectors office is to blame for the error....