Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 2, 1993 TAG: 9306020026
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Hundreds of people wait until the last day to buy their city decals and pay taxes on their cars and trucks.
Some stood in line up to two hours Tuesday.
After the long wait, they vow never again to wait until the final day.
But they still do.
As she did a year ago, Barbara Vaught found herself in the long last-day line. "Just put me down as a dummy," she said.
But she said she had a reason: She paid a lot of bills recently and didn't have $94 to pay her taxes before Tuesday.
The hallway connecting the Municipal and Municipal North buildings was filled. The crowd spilled into the lobby.
A huge fan was set up at the end of the hallway to keep the taxpayers cool as they waited.
Almost everyone had an excuse for being there on the last day.
Lydia McReynolds usually buys her decal by mail. But she thought she would wait until the last day this year, stop at the Municipal Building and get her decal in a minute or two.
"I thought it would be easier to do it this way."
Little did she think she would find herself in such a crowd.
"In college, I majored in procrastination," McReynolds joked, "so I guess that might be the reason I'm here."
Jimmy Poindexter said he waited until the last day because he had bills to pay and didn't have the money for his taxes.
Poindexter had to take time off from his job with a car dealer so he could get his decal.
Steven Stewart waited more than two hours, but didn't get upset.
After serving in the military, Stewart said, standing in line was "no big deal." He got in the wrong line and that caused him to have to wait longer.
There was one line to the commissioner of revenue's office for those who had not filed a personal property tax return, had moved to the city this year or needed to register a vehicle.
It moved much slower than the line to treasurer's office for those who had their paperwork in order and needed only to pay their taxes and get a decal.
Stewart said the city should establish satellite offices more convenient for taxpayers.
Fred Bowman was angry. There had been a mistake in the registration of his car and he had to wait two hours to get it fixed.
"I've never been in anything like this in my life," Bowman said.
Alfred Clark was waiting to pay the taxes and buy decals for two of his sons.
"When they give the money, I come down and buy them. They didn't give me the money until today," Clark said.
Treasurer Gordon Peters said city workers issued about 2,000 decals Tuesday.
Taxpayers can pay their taxes and buy their decals by mail, but nearly half pay in person. Those who missed Tuesday's tax deadline face a 10 percent penalty. The deadline was extended by a day this year because of the Memorial Day holiday.
Peters said this year the city issued about 35,000 decals by mail and 30,000 in person. Decals have been on sale since April 15.
In Roanoke County, the lines were much shorter.
Wayne Compton, county commissioner of revenue, said there were fewer than 50 people waiting at noon.
by CNB