WARREN Council OKs amnesty on income tax

The program also allows installment plans for delinquent taxpayers.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Delinquent city income taxpayers have another opportunity to pay what they owe.
At a special meeting Thursday city council passed legislation creating an amnesty program for delinquent city income taxpayers. The program would be limited from Oct. 15 through Dec. 15 and is available to all delinquent taxpayers and nonfilers.
The program was created by city Treasurer John Taylor and Tom Gaffney, tax administrator, to provide delinquent taxpayers with an opportunity to bring their income tax accounts up to date.
Council established the tax administrator position for this year and appointed Gaffney. His duties include enforcing tax ordinances and making sure everyone who's supposed to be paying taxes has properly filed with the city.
Reorganizing the income tax department became a priority for the city when a state performance audit was critical of operations, saying the department was not maximizing collections. The performance audit of the treasurer's office was done during the previous treasurer's term in office.
Under the program, taxpayers filing delinquent returns who are unable to pay all the taxes due during the amnesty period will be able to make payments through installment plans. Installment payments must result in full payment of taxes, interest and penalties by April 15, 2003.
Other action
In other business, council held back proposed dog registration legislation. Councilman Alford L. Novak, D-2nd, who sponsored the legislation, said the issue would come before council later as an amendment after some changes are made.
Lawmakers gave first reading to legislation regulating massage parlors and legislation to prohibit construction of solid, medical or toxic waste disposal, landfill, treatment, processing or recycling facilities in the city.
Both measures were referred to council's health and welfare committee.
The legislation dealing with massage parlors would prohibit massages of people of the opposite sex. It also would prohibit massage establishments from employing unlicensed masseurs or masseuses or anyone younger than 18.
Some council members have expressed concerns that the prohibition against massages of people of the opposite sex would prevent legitimate massotherapists from doing business in the city.
dick@vindy.com