The many ways the taxmen cometh

The Arlington County, Va., Treasurer’s Office has complied a resource for local officials about tax collection techniques. “Brass Tax: The Compendium of Local Government Collection Powers and Practices” identifies the collection methods that are defined by state laws, determines which of them are actually used and evaluates their effectiveness. The county’s Treasurer, Frank O’Leary, also has suggested that federal legislation should be passed so delinquent debt could be collected by local governments by offsetting federal tax refunds, which could help them recover an additional $2 billion to $3 billion annually. For more information about the book, the legislation and a course on tax collection practices, visit www.PublicTreasuryInstitute.com/BrassTax.