1987-06-22 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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r ~ ~r i, ~~ / G~~~c~;.~ ~~ ~~r r~ ~ ,_ f ~` i ~~ ~ , ti 4 ..:~. 1 ~- ~ ~i ' I ' ~~ ``,. ,` tea, ,, Judge ~: Luis Lob- rado had his rr way, he'd sentence ~ cities and counties to depositing their payrolls directly into their employ- ees' banks. "Think of the time that would be saved," said the EI Paso mu- nicipal court judge. "It takes time to prepare individual checks, to stuff them into envelopes, and to direct ~2go~it Your Payroil distribute them. It also takes time-and it's usually working time-for people to take their checks to the bank." Judge Lobrado noted another advantage of direct deposit: em- ployees' pay is usually deposited in their accounts sooner than if they have to hand-carry them to their individual banks. The judge also suggested that employees could be given an in- centive to participate in direct deposit-such as a cash bonus for each month or quarter that there is a high rate of participation. The bonus would come out of the savings realized by direct deposit. Direct deposit can be done with regular paper checks--one ~~~~ ~~ ~~~c~~l ~~~ ~~~~~~r~.~~~~~~~~n~ State law provides that tele- communication services are sub- ject to the state sales tax, but are exempt from all local sales taxes. However, the law also says that if a city or county wants to apply its local sales tax to tele- communications, it may repeal that exemption. October 1, 1987 is the earliest that the repeal may take effect and-the tax imposed. If you want it done by this date, you must no- tify the Comptroller by June 30, 1987. '' (Since counties can't even start collecting a sales tax until January 1, 1988, their repeal wouldn't be effective until then.) Here's the procedure for re- pealing the exemption and placing your local sales tax on telecom- munication services. 1. The city council adopts an ordinance or the commissioners court passes an order to repeal the local sales tax exemption on telecommunication services (for appropriate wording, see the box on the facing page). 2. The vote on the ordinance/ order is entered into the minutes of the governing body. 3. A copy of the ordinance/ check per bank, along with a List of employees with accounts at each bank. Or, electronic funds transfer can be used. If you want to discuss this idea with Judge Lobrado, call him at 915-533-1140, or write him at 1500 Montana, El Paso, Texas 79902. Do you have any "cost-saving' or "revenue-enhancing" ideas.? ', Share them with other county and city folks-we'll publish them and give you full credit. Call or write: Comptroller's Local Government Program, 1-800-252-5555, ext. 3-4679, 111 East 17th St., Austin, Texas 78774. exemption order is sent to the Comptroller by United States registered or certified mail. 4. After the Comptroller re- ceives the notice, one full calen- darquarter must elapse. The re- peal of the exemption then takes effect and the tax is imposed on the first day of the next calendar quarter... . . Notice must be For exemption to be repealed received by: on: (For tax to be imposed on:) June 30, 198? October 1, 1987 September 30, 1987 January 1, 1988 December 31, 1987 April 1, 1988 March 31, 1988 July 1, 1988 June 30, 1988 October 1, 1988 For more information, call the Comptroller toll free 1-800-252-5555.