Cocke County Clerk Janice Butler is joining clerks from across the state in opposing a change that could adversely affect small businesses.
Davidson County Clerk John Arriola is to testify before a Senate Subcommittee in Nashville next week concerning the Tennessee Department of Revenue taking business tax administration from county clerks.
"I strongly oppose the attempt to take away the issuance of business licenses and the collection of business taxes from the county clerks across the state," said Arriola in a press release.
"This has very serious ramification for all my constituents and business owners across Tennessee. I do not believe the Department of Revenue can offer the same level of helpfulness and one-on-one frontline support that county clerks have provided since 1971."
Arriola contends small business owners may especially have more difficulty in submitting tax returns to the Department of Revenue without one-on-one assistance from local government. It is this level of customer service, which the clerks think is very important.
Butler agrees with Arriola's concerns.
"We spend countless hours daily working with local business owners," said Butler, who also plans to attending next week's committee meeting. "If the state takes over this function, the county will lose no money but again a vital service will be taken locally from county citizens.
"Of course the state would be more strict on those who are operating without a license or the ones who do not pay on time. The state is trying to find a way to generate more revenue.
"If taxpayers are delinquent locally, they will cite them and charge penalty and interest, plus keep all the revenue for the state instead of the counties getting their share. They do plan to go after delinquent accounts aggressively.
"I will be contacting lawmakers to voice my opposition to this. We can better serve Cocke County citizens in the county clerk's office."