Tax chief shouldn’t act like a potentate
The AJC has reported on the loophole that allows tax commissioners to collect fees for tax collection. “Tax chief may face pay cut” (News, Feb. 6) adds further fuel to the fire. Although Arthur Ferdinand’s office has the means to efficiently send consolidated tax bills and collect the monies, he is not the owner of this “business.” He is an employee and should be compensated on the same basis as any other employee: merit. He oversees a government office and the people who report to him, and the computers, software and office space are government-employed or government-owned.
Any additional duties should be discussed with his superiors and compensation should be adjusted during the employee-review process. This is how private companies operate. Government should be no different.
Meredith K. Lewis, Acworth
Many here illegally also benefit society
I am saddened and disturbed by the one-sided presentation of statistics and media reporting which portrays illegal immigrants as harmful to our society. I have no doubt that children of illegal immigrants cost taxpayers. When I saw the monetary expense statistics accompanying “New law creates more work for some schools” (News, Jan. 30), I wondered how much money is spent in Georgia by its illegal-immigrant communities. How much money are they putting back into the system in housing, utilities, food, living necessities, transportation, etc.? What about statistics from employers who have trouble filling undesirable jobs (which the illegal immigrant community eagerly accepts)? What about statistics regarding property values of older transitional areas, which may plummet were it not for hard-working immigrants who often live there?
These are equally important statistics and deserve front-page coverage, too.
Jonathan Lee, East Point
Bad omen for future of Social Security
I have a question: Is the payroll tax cut (wherein contributions to Social Security are reduced) not akin to what’s called “eating the seed corn”?
Patrick Hahn, Lawrenceville
Luckovich takes cruel jab at Handel
Whether one likes or dislikes, approves or disapproves of Karen Handel, it appears to me that the Mike Luckovich cartoon was a little over the top (Opinion, Feb. 7). I realize that Luckovich is supposed to be a political satirist, but this seems a little much. I suggest that Luckovich take time to read Thomas Sowell’s “Just ballot box can stop character assassination” (Opinion, Feb. 7) on the opposite page to his cartoon — just a little food for thought when he sits down to draw his subjects.
GENE RHODES, Roswell
