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VOL 101, No. 132
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
ADVERTISING: 864-4358
TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 1991
(USPS 650-640)
NEWS:864-4810.
Band, cloggers cheer taxpayers
provided musical entertainment for people trying to beat the IRS midnight deadline.
The Barnstorm Cloggers entertain tax filers at the U.S. Post Office, 645 Vermont St. The Alfard Packer Memorial String Band
Slow filers entertained at post office
By Benjamin W. Allen Kansan staff writer
Tax titfers who dashed into the post office moments before midnight were cheered by the audience of a local band and dance group that entertained the near-tardy taxpayers.
Lawrence's main branch of the U.S. Post Office, 645 Vermont St., rang with the sounds of the Alfred Packer Memorial String Band and the Barnstorm Cloggers as it stayed open until midnight to accommodate taxpayers who waited until the last possible moment.
Bill Reynolds, Lawrence postmaster, said that 3,000 to 4,000 tax forms were mailed at the post office between 5:30 p.m. to midnight yesterday and that taxpayers might benefit because of the bond and dangers.
"It certainly makes it exciting and entertaining around here," he said. "It releases the tension."
Some people came in simply to mail their tax forms and others took a pile of documents tucked under their arms and with burrowed brows.
Phillip Wells, professor of botany and systematics and ecology, was one of the last people to file. He handed Reynolds his tax forms as Reynolds was locking up the post office.
Wells said filling out the forms and tending to last minute details, such as photocopying the forms, always took longer than he thought.
Wells, who does not expect a refund from the IRS, said, "You might as well hold on to it as long as possible."
Jay Smith, Lawrence resident,
said his taxes this year were complicated because he had started his business and purchased a home last year.
"I had about eight sheets in the envelope, and I still didn't have everything I needed," he said. "So I just turned the sheet over
wrote, "To whom it may concern:
This is what I'm trying to do, so give me a break."
"I don't think they'll throw me in jail or anything, since they know where I live."
Mindy Kuti, Lawrence graduate student, mailed her tax forms at 11:30 p.m.
"Plenty of time," she said. "I
thought if I ignored it long enough it would go away."
Steve Mason, one of the members of the band, said the idea of playing in the post office April 15 came to him five years ago when he felt a letdown after mailing his tax forms — and then there was no party.
The next year he decided to have
a jam session in the post office.
"We thought they would throw us out, but everybody seemed to like it," he said. "In an article written about it the next year, the postmaster said he hoped the band that plued would come back."
with food for any adventurous tax
filer who wanted to brave wild boar
chili and a side dish of opossum
fingers.
The carnival-like atmosphere was enhanced when Mike Coffman, the band's "personal chef," arrived
Reynolds said, "Whether it's good or bad, it shows we can make a party out of anything. Even something as distasteful as paying your taxes can be fun if you put your mind to it."
U.S. citizens may think their accounts are paid, but they must still work 23 days to satisfy state, local tax agents
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The average U.S. citizen, who just settled accounts with Uncle Sam for 1990, will have to work 23 more days to pay the taxes and local tax collectors this year, the Tax Foundation said yesterday.
Tax Freedom Day — the mythical date on which the average person has earned enough to pay all tax obligations for the year — will fall this year on May 8, the foundation's date is three days later than last year.
The foundation blamed the later date on last year's deficit-reduction tax increase, the Jan. 1 boost in the amount of wages subject to Social Security tax, sharp increases in local and local taxes and the recession.
"Stated simply, tax increases will
'Sited simply, tax increases will easily outpace the growth in individuals' income during 1991. Income is likely to rise by only 3.7 percent this year, while the total tax take is expected to increase by 6.6 percent.'
easily outpace the growth in individuals' income during 1991, "foundation economists concluded. Income is likely to rise by only 3.7 percent this year, while the total tax take is expected to increase by 6.6 percent.
Don't look for quick relief in the trend.
Tax Foundation Economists
"The combined pressures of a persistent federal budget deficit, demands to expand funding for new and existing programs, budget crises in numerous states and the slowdown in income growth could have a devastating effect later on our calendars in future years." the foundation said.
As recently as 1848, Tax Freedom Day fell on April 28 — the same date in 1970. In 1930, the earliest year for which figures are available, workers would have earned enough on Feb. 13 to pay the tax collector and begin working for themselves the rest of the year.
hours and 49 minutes of each eight-hour day this year to pay taxes, an increase of five minutes from last year. The federal tax share of that is one hour and 50 minutes, a three-minute increase.
The private foundation's figures assume that individuals pay all taxes, including those actually collected from corporations.
In terms of time spent, the average worker will have to toil for two
By comparison, the foundation said, the cost of maintaining a home is down to hour and 23 minutes, a drop of three minutes from last week's rate. The company will require 57 minutes a day, one minute less than last year.
Health care will take 46 minutes, up two minutes. Transportation took a 38-minute bite, one minute less than last year. Recreation held steady at 24 minutes, clothing dropped from 24 to 23 minutes, and all other expenses, including contributions and education, declined by a minute a day to 40 minutes.
Time worked until Tax Freedom Day grows;
Average number of days worked to pay off state, federal taxes:
SOURCE: Tax Foundation
Knight-Ridder Tribune News/JUDY TREIBLE
Appraiser's resignation astonishes commission
Promise to end reappraisal problems is cited by Gordon
By Vanessa Fuhrmans Kansan staff writer
County Appraiser Don Gordon announced his resignation yesterday morning, saying that he was unable to live up to the promise that problems with reappraisal would never occur again.
Gordon surprised Douglas County Commissioners with his announcement just minutes before the commission convened to begin an internal audit of the county's reappraisal program.
Gordon said he would continue to help the commission with the audit until he left May 4. But a promise made by Commissioner Mike Amyx to angry taxpayers last week made him change his position, remain as county appraiser, he said.
"Reapraisal is a constant," he
claims in the statement "Property
values are not."
"A promise that 'this will never happen again' has been made by Commissioner Amyx. It has appeared in print at least five times this past week. This promise by Commissioner Amyx cannot be kept, and I cannot help Commissioner Amyx keep it.
"I'm not concerned about the audits. But I cannot, in good conscience, remain in this position under a promised threat."
Since the county mailed appraisal notices to property owners April 4, Gordon has taken the heat for inflated property valuations and errors in the county appraisal program. When irate taxpayers packed the county commission chambers Wednesday night to complain about their appraisals, many called for Gordon's resignation.
Gordon, who has been county appraiser since 1978, will use his remaining vacation time beginning May 4 and will resign officially July
"I apologize that Don feels like he's not able to finish this task," he said. "This isn't the way to fix the problem."
Commissioner Mark Buhler said he was disappointed that Gordon had resigned, despite problems within the apraoiral program.
Commissioner Louie McEhlaney, who learned of Gordon's decision only minutes before the announcement, said that the problems that had occurred during the appraisal process exclusively to the county or to Gordon.
"I know that Don is doing this not only for himself but for the benefit of the county," he said. "But Douglas county in the state have problems."
McElhaney said he hoped Gordon's resignation would not slow the investigation of the appraisal program.
"We will be shorthanded in that probably, now that Don is leaving," he said.
But Commissioner Amyx said he did not think the audit would be slowed because of Gordon's resignation. The most important factor in the good communication among county officials and property owners, he said.
"The comment I made the other evening "I stand behind," he said. "I think the mistakes made are correctable."
Election panel listens to Senate campaign complaints
Kansan staff writer
Bv Michael Christie
The Student Senate elections are over, but both Facts and Impact coalition members cannot rest easily yet because the elections will be won by one of the campaign violations by both coalitions.
The commission heard three complaints against Facts last night that the commission considered to be major campaign violations. Seven major complaints have been filed against Facts, and two have been filed against Impact
Major violations could result in candidates being barred from holding office in Senate.
Two of the complaints against Facts involve distribution of alcohol on campus. The other deals with improper use of campaign
Ann Spikes, Hugoton sophomore, filed the first complaint. She said that March 30, the kung of the KU-North Carolina game, Jason McIntosh, then presidential candidate, gave her a beer in front of Wescoe Hall and talked about the campaign.
posters.
It is a violation of election rules for a candidate to campaign while distributing audits.
"He looked at me. He said, 'Remember Facts,' Spikes said.
Spikes said she had worked on the Impact campaign. She is a minor.
McIntosh said he did not give a beer to Spikes
He said he was holding a 12-pack of beer at Wescop for a friend.
"I was carrying it for her through the
crowd." he said. "I am underage."
He said he gave beer to several people on campus that night.
McIntosh said that he was wearing a Factis button and that he did discuss the campaign
Another complaint involving the same incident, filed by elections commission member Eugene Montes, involves a rule in the elections code that states that campaign activities must conform to applicable local and state laws.
It is a misdemeanor for a person under the
itage of 21 to possess, consume or distribute
alcohol.
Paula Zimmermann, Arlington Heights,
ill., junior, said McIntosh was holding the
beer for her. She also said that she was a
minor and that McIntosh gave her beers that
"If you believe there is a violation of the law, you need to contact the police." he said
she handed out.
Robertson said the commission should not have the authority to deal with the issue.
"I also know that everyone was drinking that night."
John Robertson, Lawrence graduate student and a member of the Facts coalition, said he was troubled by the allegations.
"We have the testimony of a person who is at least indirectly involved with Impact," he said. "I know who I believe, but then I've been working closely with them for a while."
In another complaint filed, Curt Wingearman, commission chairperson, alleged that Facts committed a major violation by displaying Facts campaign posters in cars.
McIntosh said he thought his freedom of speech was being violated by the order.
Weingearn said he was concerned that Facts members did not attempt to take down the signs after they were told to do so.
The elections commission is scheduled to continue hearings at 5 p.m. today in the Kansas Union.
The commission will address the major complaints against Impact after it is finished hearing those filed against Facts. It will hear major complaints against both coalitions last.
Tom Poer, elections commissioner, said there had been 15 to 25 minor complaints filed against Impact and 70 to 90 minor complaints filed against Facts.