RECESSION MAKES PAYING TAXES HARD

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, January 24, 1992                   TAG: 9201280050
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short
RECESSION MAKES PAYING TAXES HARD
AS A TAXPAYING citizen of Roanoke County, I found it hard to believe when I was served a subpoena by a deputy for my 1991 personal-property-tax assessment. These taxes were 60 days past due. It seems as if a letter or a phone call could have taken care of the problem.
I am a partner with my brother in a dump-truck business, and the recession has affected our work. It's been hard to pay anything. For the past seven years, we have taken pride in being able to pay our taxes and business license fee on time, up until now.
I think Alfred C. Anderson, treasurer of Roanoke County, used poor judgment the way he handled this, due to the short time period. I also want to say that, having parents who have been in the trucking business for 43 years, I know what kind of taxes they have paid. They're not cheap.
On Jan. 14 Wayne Compton, county commissioner of the revenue, was charged with building a boat dock in Franklin County without a building permit. He said he thought if he built it on Sunday, he didn't need a permit. What? I think Mr. Compton believes the rules apply to everybody but him.
No wonder our country is in the shape it's in. I wish I was a member of the Franklin County Planning Commission. MIKE HELMS ROANOKE COUNTY

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB