Budget Committee Approves Plan For More Delinquent-Tax Collectors

The legislature’s budget committee has voted to support Governor Scott Walker’s plan to add new agents to collect delinquent taxes.

The Department of Revenue estimates 15 new revenue agents will let them generate roughly $18 million that’s owed to the state over the next two years. And while the plan received unanimous support, Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) cast his vote reluctantly: “I’m going to vote yes on this because they have me over a barrel.”

Grothman contends going after delinquent taxes ends up hurting small businessmen and women who take risks that don’t pan out. As for the Revenue agents who collect the taxes: “My personal opinion is sometimes these guys are unnecessarily mean and heartless.

But Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) says she thinks most people who are paying their fair share of taxes would support hiring new agents to go after people who are not: “Senator Grothman, while you think they’re mean people, they have a job to do in our state.”

The budget committee also voted to add new auditors to go after tax fraud. Altogether it estimates the moves would generate a net of about $70 million in the next two-year budget.