Thursday, July 9, 2009

McLain Expresses Concern Over New Law

   Lawrenceburg City Administrator William McLain expressed some concern Thursday over a law that will soon take effect, regarding how business taxes will be collected.

   McLain discussed the matter with members of the Lawrenceburg Board of Mayor and Council during a meeting Thursday morning. During a workshop Wednesday lead by representatives of the Municipal Technical Advisory Service on the subject of new laws and how they affect local governments, McLain explained they discussed the newly-passed state rule. It dictates, he said, that a department of the State of Tennessee will begin collecting all business taxes for cities within the state. Once collected, the state will keep the portion allocated to the state, then disperse the funds to the various cities.

   “I just don’t feel this is a very good idea,” McLain expressed. “I don’t think the state can do as good a job of collecting taxes from our local businesses as we do.”

   McLain expressed his intent to discuss the matter with State Representative Joey Hensley. He indicated that the edict was attached to an unrelated piece of legislation passed by state legislators. “We still have eighteen months until it takes effect,” he said, “maybe he can do something to have this changed.”