07/24/2002

Assess current methods and technologies being used to determine effectiveness, accountability, and imposition upon those private sector businesses engaged in reporting sales taxes. Determine those areas where taxes are being collected at a cost to tax payers as opposed to contributing to the revenues being budgeted by the Governor and spent by the legislature. Develop methods to collect taxes requiring less time by small business and to offer a mechanism to receive those funds by automatic deposits through the banks as opposed to manual transmission by shop keepers, consultants, etc. Allow private contractors to submit their ideas for saving time in their businesses to account for and responsibly deliver collected taxes to the State. Build a bigger tax base and eliminate duplicated taxes on the same monies through recommendations to the legislature to balance their budgets as close to "zero" base while reducing local pork as an example to our members in the U.S. Congress to do the same. And most importantly investigate ways to replace the income tax with other forms of revenue generation not based upon gambling or penalty taxes on necessities by counties to raise operating capital to accomplish budgeted items outside of bureaucratic entitlements and compensation (these must be brought in line with the private sector – parity).

Usually, budget items that are necessary can be identified in few words; those requiring much discussion usually are not necessary and require bigger boots to go through the rhetoric. Each department or sub-entity will request a budget that will be matched against previous three-year performance objectives and staff evaluations to reduce funding levels without reducing services to the tax payers (those people who taxes are paid with monies earned from contributing sources to the gross state product). If it cannot be done that way, those responsible will take responsibility to assure goals are met even it means cuts in their entitlements and other departmental overheads.

Lobbyists will be restricted from "imposing" funding requirements in current legislative sessions to avoid conflicts of interest between State officials and special interests resulting in additional costs to the Taxpayers.

Media will receive reports of the outcomes of decision-making sessions without contributing hearsay and innuendo in print or broadcast before a decision is reached. There will be times when the media will be invited to report on a project or ruling to assure the public’s understanding and best interest.

"Freedom of Information" requests will be honored as long as the integrity of the reporting does not distort or confuse the issues and media takes responsibility for any liability it creates - Tom Brokow’s erroneous reporting on election news, or Dan Rather’s fabrication of an Anthrax incident, etc.

Not all meetings will be public information so as not to prevent honest and loyal debate of ideas that may or may not be implemented through recommendations with the Governor, Legislature or Private Sector Utility or Contractor. No media circuses to fill newscasts and front pages.

MORE IMPORTANTLY -- There are opportunities that will generate revenues for the State that will require innovative investments in Maryland to increase the taxpayer’s assets while reducing their liability. Some of these can be gleaned at DNET.org (League of women’s voters web site) describing situations this candidate has contributed to in the past. This aspect of the Comptroller’s office – recommendations for use of funds – has as much to do with fiscal responsibility as bean counting, but far exceeds any contribution a lawyer could make in financial management.

Gene Zarwell responses:

Questions for Candidates Running for Comptroller:

How will you improve collection of state revenues?

How will you ensure accurate distribution of taxes to other parts and levels of government?

 Distribution of public funds is not to be taken lightly. Analysis of department budget requests will be conducted to assure realistic numbers instead of "pie-in-the-sky submissions". Then audits will be conducted to find those items causing budget over-runs with higher priorities for items that benefit the tax paying private sector and lower priorities for internal government operations and entitlements. Surpluses will be recognized rather than over-spending and end-of- the-year binges to use up the funds so as to justify increased allocations in future years or fiscal quarters.

How will you protect the public’s interest as a member of the Board of Public Works?

Invite "jurors" to attend some meetings to learn what is important to the taxpayers as opposed to what is important to the Board. They will not have a role at the meeting, but will have an ear after the meeting to voice their perceptions of "how their money will be spent or not spent". "Jurors" will not include the media or lobbyists, but will represent various age groups.