Request to waive late tax penalty denied
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com

El Campo ISD trustees decided businesses need to mind their tax deadlines when they refused to waive a late tax fee for an oil company.

During its April 15 regular monthly meeting, the board considered a request from Kirkwood & Darby, a tax management and consulting firm, asking trustees to waive $1,702.68 in penalties assessed when a client's taxes were paid Feb. 4, four days after the Jan. 31 deadline.

The consulting company explained by letter the oil and gas wells in question had three different owners during 2007, and not all tax bills were forwarded to the proper office in time.

The consultants said they had no problem with the $283.78 paid in interest, money included in the $28,378 paid Feb. 4 by Southern G Holdings, which now owns the properties.

The consultant's letter said Southern G "already paid property tax assessments that are clearly disproportionate to the services they have consumed," and paying four days past the deadline "could not have possibly lead to any governmental (entity's) inability to make good (their) own financial responsibilities."

ECISD Superintendent Mark Pool told trustees granting the request was strictly voluntary for the board, but "my concern … is it will set a precedent for the future."

Trustee Cecil Davis asked if anyone had ever made such a request before, and ECISD Superintendent for Finance David Bright said it was the first he'd seen.

Board President Judy Waligura said the tax deadline is common knowledge.

"Everybody knows taxes are due by January," she said. "It's still your responsibility."

Trustee Ralph Novosad made a motion to deny the request, seconded by David Hodges, and the board agreed 7-0.

"Some lawyer dropped the ball," Novosad said.