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Sunday, November 20, 2016

Maryland comptroller misdirected more than $21 million in tax money

Maryland's chief tax collector said Wednesday that his office accidentally misdirected $21.4 million of local income tax payments for years, a mistake that affects nearly every municipality in the state.

Comptroller Peter Franchot told a panel of state lawmakers that the scope of misdirected tax payments was broader than he previously thought.

State auditors reported in September that the comptroller's office had sent $8.7 million to the wrong municipalities in Montgomery County. On Wednesday, Franchot said his office found another $12.7 million in misdirected money since 2010.

Over the next couple of days, 89 cities will receive checks for money they should have received over the past five years. Some checks will be for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Another 83 cities, which received money in error, will be required to repay the state. The cities will be put on payment plans that start in 2024.

Franchot, a Democrat, has been comptroller for nearly 10 years.

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20 comments:

Anonymous said...

fire him now!

Anonymous said...

A list of those cities and the amounts, whether receiving or owing, would have been a nice addition to this release.

Anonymous said...

Bet you that the cities across the bridge are the ones who got more money than they were supposed to and guess where the cities were that got shafted!!!!! Why do the payment plans start in 2024? Why not now?

Anonymous said...

And why is he still comptroller?

Anonymous said...

Better to get it all out instead of keeping us in suspense. The numbers and city names should be interesting.

Anonymous said...

How can you "accidentally misdirect" 21.4 mil. He has 10 years in office which is 10 years to long. Time to put him in the swamp that soon will be drained.

Anonymous said...

No doubt Franchot must live in montgomery county. With a republican govenor how come we have a democrat as comptroller?

Anonymous said...

He got caught and trying to misdirect the blame off himself by saying he is correcting his mistake. Fire him with no benefits. If not does this mean a thief can return the things he stole and get no prison time. This sounds like the Hillary syndrome of punishment only for the ordinary citizen. This is Sen Mike Miller's buddy.

Anonymous said...

It went to Baltimore City to help pay for the Freddie Gray case. Remember the Federal Government refused to pay for the destruction and legal fees associated with the lawsuits involved in this case. Very "convenient " of the controller to loose this money.

Anonymous said...

Why wait 8 years? They can start payments tomorrow morning as far as I'm concerned! I don't understand the delay?

Anonymous said...

Yes the same one leveling fines, raising mva fines,grabbing people's refunds,and killing small buisness with his aggressive collection...but he misdirects money and we are supposed to look the other way?? I have owed taxes for the past four years, I never had to pay before..it seems he has no problem taking our money....

Anonymous said...

The level of comprehension of you people is sofa king low it is almost comical. He didn't steal the money or give it friends and family. Certain cities got more than they should have and other cities did not get enough. It it being corrected. The state budget was 40 billion in 2015 so 21 million is easy to lose track of and all it takes is a misplaced decimal or data entry error.

Anonymous said...

Stuff like this doesn't just accidentally happen - he made it happen. Do they think we are a bunch of dummies out here? Get rid of him NOW!!!

JoeAlbero said...

Best to expose this BS now because they know when Trump gets into office he'll have none of this. I wouldn't be surprised if this isn't coming out in every state right now.

Anonymous said...

Nice to give the ones mistakenly paid an 8 year head start on figuring out how to do it.

Anonymous said...

Is there no one in this office that knows what the hell they are doing and what to look for BEFORE such a CARELESS mistake was made??? I have to wonder if it was done on purpose since he is a democrat.

Anonymous said...

Right! For years they misdirected funds? Give us a break!

Anonymous said...

MD needs to be mandated for a "Forensic Audit" within 30 days with this revelation. Then hold everyone responsible for this mishandling of State funds. This starts with the Comptroller and down. There is no way he has not been aware of this mishandling of funds when he has been in charge for ten years. Responsibility leads to firing, no MD benefits, Prison time then so be it. It will probably end in the same way Hillary is being treated. One set of laws for the Politian / elite and one for the rest of us. Why is it going to take eight years for the repayment? If it was me the State would have my salary attached within two weeks. Hogan needs to make a decision now. Franchot should not be making this decision since it went to his "HomeBoys " Counties.

Anonymous said...

I stopped paying MD income tax 5 years ago by making FL my domicile. Yes, I still have properties here and enjoy them in the summer but without the tax burden. Stop whining and do something about it.

Anonymous said...

Figures for Corrupt Maryland Gov !! Nothing new......