Comments on: Sound Move MVET Charged Outside of ST District http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/05/sound-move-mvet-charged-outside-of-st-district/ Transit in the Greater Seattle Area Thu, 24 May 2012 15:06:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Seattle Transit Blog » Weekend Tax Rumors http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/05/sound-move-mvet-charged-outside-of-st-district/#comment-21350 Seattle Transit Blog » Weekend Tax Rumors Sat, 13 Dec 2008 15:46:38 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1334#comment-21350 [...] Sound Move MVET Charged Outside of ST District [...]
[...] Sound Move MVET Charged Outside of ST District [...]

]]> By: Seattle Transit Blog » Seattle Transit Blog http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/05/sound-move-mvet-charged-outside-of-st-district/#comment-20761 Seattle Transit Blog » Seattle Transit Blog Sat, 06 Dec 2008 02:09:32 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1334#comment-20761 [...] Sound Move MVET Charged Outside of ST District [...]
[...] Sound Move MVET Charged Outside of ST District [...]

]]> By: Seattle Transit Blog » Seattle Transit Blog http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/05/sound-move-mvet-charged-outside-of-st-district/#comment-20762 Seattle Transit Blog » Seattle Transit Blog Sat, 06 Dec 2008 02:09:32 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1334#comment-20762 [...] Sound Move MVET Charged Outside of ST District [...]
[...] Sound Move MVET Charged Outside of ST District [...]

]]> By: Jason http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/05/sound-move-mvet-charged-outside-of-st-district/#comment-20746 Jason Fri, 05 Dec 2008 21:55:11 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1334#comment-20746 Ahh, but lawsuits are the American Way! Free money - money for nothing - the proverbial jackpot! The state has made attempts to upgrade its software, but the legislature never funds these programs. No elected official wants to be accused of giving more tools to the taxman. Reactionary voters (ie, Republicans) would scare citizens into thinking new computer software would be used to extract more money from them - as opposed to making the system more accurate.
Ahh, but lawsuits are the American Way! Free money – money for nothing – the proverbial jackpot!

The state has made attempts to upgrade its software, but the legislature never funds these programs. No elected official wants to be accused of giving more tools to the taxman. Reactionary voters (ie, Republicans) would scare citizens into thinking new computer software would be used to extract more money from them – as opposed to making the system more accurate.

]]> By: Ben Schiendelman http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/05/sound-move-mvet-charged-outside-of-st-district/#comment-20745 Ben Schiendelman Fri, 05 Dec 2008 21:37:59 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1334#comment-20745 Yes, the RTA boundary could actually use some moving. We've built some more sprawl in the last fifteen years.
Yes, the RTA boundary could actually use some moving. We’ve built some more sprawl in the last fifteen years.

]]> By: Ben Schiendelman http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/05/sound-move-mvet-charged-outside-of-st-district/#comment-20744 Ben Schiendelman Fri, 05 Dec 2008 21:37:22 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1334#comment-20744 As with all software bugs. But a computer system written by a contracted company for a purpose that may have changed dramatically? We don't get to just point a finger. What's amusing is that this error probably cost taxpayers less than replacing the computer system.
As with all software bugs. But a computer system written by a contracted company for a purpose that may have changed dramatically? We don’t get to just point a finger.

What’s amusing is that this error probably cost taxpayers less than replacing the computer system.

]]> By: John Jensen http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/05/sound-move-mvet-charged-outside-of-st-district/#comment-20737 John Jensen Fri, 05 Dec 2008 18:25:57 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1334#comment-20737 My understanding is that the computer system wasn't sophisticated enough -- obviously that should change.
My understanding is that the computer system wasn’t sophisticated enough — obviously that should change.

]]> By: Tim Whittome http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/05/sound-move-mvet-charged-outside-of-st-district/#comment-20733 Tim Whittome Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:51:15 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1334#comment-20733 Yes, I thought that too - I actually wish I lived in the ST taxing district but though I live in rural Issaquah off the SR 900 and use the Issaquah P&R with its 554 and 555/556, we don't live in a ST taxable part of the district Tim
Yes, I thought that too – I actually wish I lived in the ST taxing district but though I live in rural Issaquah off the SR 900 and use the Issaquah P&R with its 554 and 555/556, we don’t live in a ST taxable part of the district

Tim

]]> By: Keo http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/05/sound-move-mvet-charged-outside-of-st-district/#comment-20730 Keo Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:17:54 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1334#comment-20730 To play devil's advocate, these may be people who are benefiting from ST service just outside the taxing area. ;-)
To play devil’s advocate, these may be people who are benefiting from ST service just outside the taxing area.

;-)

]]> By: Brian in Seattle http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/05/sound-move-mvet-charged-outside-of-st-district/#comment-20729 Brian in Seattle Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:15:33 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1334#comment-20729 Working customer service for a utility, occasionaly a customer will call regarding this same issue. The utility collects the cities' utility taxes and than disburses those to the city. Sometimes a customer will call stating they are in the county and not the city and than the company has to go into the system and change the coding issue or whatever it was that caused that location to be included in the city and be charged the city tax. It can happen for any number of reasons, but its a pretty easy fix once its either dectected or a customer notifies the company. It should only take a phone call to fix this though if this problem happens to you, not a lawsuit. Although like in this case, usually there are more than just one customer affected by it.
Working customer service for a utility, occasionaly a customer will call regarding this same issue. The utility collects the cities’ utility taxes and than disburses those to the city. Sometimes a customer will call stating they are in the county and not the city and than the company has to go into the system and change the coding issue or whatever it was that caused that location to be included in the city and be charged the city tax. It can happen for any number of reasons, but its a pretty easy fix once its either dectected or a customer notifies the company.

It should only take a phone call to fix this though if this problem happens to you, not a lawsuit. Although like in this case, usually there are more than just one customer affected by it.

]]> By: AJ http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/05/sound-move-mvet-charged-outside-of-st-district/#comment-20727 AJ Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:10:46 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1334#comment-20727 This happens all the time, though. The weight rests on the taxpayer to make sure they aren't paying something they ought not be paying.
This happens all the time, though. The weight rests on the taxpayer to make sure they aren’t paying something they ought not be paying.

]]> By: BurienBen http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/05/sound-move-mvet-charged-outside-of-st-district/#comment-20723 BurienBen Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:51:37 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1334#comment-20723 I love how they blame the computers. Computers only do what they are programmed to do. It was human error, not computer.
I love how they blame the computers. Computers only do what they are programmed to do. It was human error, not computer.

]]> By: Tim Whittome http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/05/sound-move-mvet-charged-outside-of-st-district/#comment-20720 Tim Whittome Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:20:07 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1334#comment-20720 When I first heard this I was sorely tempted by the thought that I wish no one had noticed! $3m is a lot of money to give back, especially as I am sure it was spent already and now ST will have to repay itself! Yes, you're right - thank goodness this didn't break before the election! Tim
When I first heard this I was sorely tempted by the thought that I wish no one had noticed! $3m is a lot of money to give back, especially as I am sure it was spent already and now ST will have to repay itself!

Yes, you’re right – thank goodness this didn’t break before the election!

Tim

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