Editor’s note: This is the second in a multipart series looking at contested local races in the May 22 primary. Each installment, running Sundays until the primary, will look at a different race in Union County or El Dorado. Remember to check News-Times editions throughout May for more information on the primary elections and what voters can expect to see on their ballots!
By Kaitlyn Rigdon
Staff Writer
A two-way race is set for the Union County tax collector seat, with incumbent tax collector Paula Beard and Karen Scott both hoping to win the seat.
With both Beard and Scott running as a Democrat, the winner will be determined in the May 22 primary election.
According to the Association of Arkansas Counties, the tax collector’s duties include collecting taxes for the county, as well as municipal, county, school and improvement district taxes. The collector then turns over the taxes to the county treasurer.
In 2017, the tax collector’s office updated their computer system with software by Apprentice Information Systems (AIS). At the time, out of the 75 counties in Arkansas, only two counties had not upgraded their system, with Union County being one of them.
The downside to switching the systems was that it was done in the middle of the year, which created confusion within the courthouse. The original software was called the IBM AS400 server system, which was first introduced in June 1988. Some offices in the courthouse still operate on the AS400 system.
The tax collector’s office gained approval to upgrade the computer system to AIS in April 2017. The total cost of the system was $84,000, which could be paid $12,000 a year, for seven years.
Beard said she fought for the taxpayers to upgrade their hardware and software from an “outdated 1980s operating system” to AIS.
“Our new vendor provides immediate support and provides a supportive network of other tax collectors from over 65 counties,” Beard said. “It also allows for more efficient transactions and accountability in my office. We can now email statements and receipts to our taxpayers and have had very positive feedback from our taxpayers.”
Referring to the switchover, Scott said she would not have switched systems because the AS400 system that was already in place was fully paid for. She said that updates could have been made so that the system worked properly.
Currently, the assessor’s office works on the AS400 and the tax collector’s office works on the AIS.
Scott said that with her experience in both offices, she knows that “the two systems don’t really speak to each other.”
The final tax settlement summary, which was approved by County Judge Mike Loftin and sent to the state, said the county was down $1.2 million in collections from the 2016’s collection total.
To get an accurate tax settlement, Union County hired Jim Monk, who has overseen technical updates in Union County since the 1980s.
Monk used the Year to Date Cash Settlement Reports from both the AS400 and AIS to account for the tax receipts. After combining the totals, the difference resulted in an actual shortage of about $2,200, which Beard said she paid out of pocket.
Scott said by having both the assessor’s office and the tax collector’s office on the AS400, “everything just goes together.”
“When you pull up someone’s name, you know for sure when you get your assessment from the assessor’s office, over at the collector’s office the account number is going to match,” Scott said. “Right now, some of the numbers don’t match.”
Beard said that while learning the new system, they had to balance two systems to get an end result, “which to me was a positive end result for what we went through.”
“I’m excited about this new system we have because it makes you accountable and it is a Microsoft operating system,” Beard said. “It took me and my staff about four weeks to learn how to use it.”
Scott said if elected, she would switch back to the AS400 “to be on the same page with the assessor’s office,” noting that any issues can be fixed and software can be updated.
Beard said she has no regrets as to any of the decisions she has made in her office, including switching the systems.
“Standing up for what’s right and having morals and principles is not always popular in politics, but I refuse to sacrifice my values,” she said.
The position of tax collector is a full-time job with a salary around $56,000. The legal requirements to hold the position include being a U.S. citizen, a resident of Union County, at least 18-years-old and lawfully registered to vote, never have been convicted of embezzlement of public money, bribery, forgery or other convictions and the person cannot be appointed or elected to any other civil office.
“My proven leadership, honesty, transparency, experience and integrity have been vital to serving as your Union County tax collector,” Beard said, referring to why she would be the best person for the job. “Having served on the federal, state and county level has provided immeasurable knowledge and experience.”
Scott said the reason she is the best person for the job is because of her experience in both the collector’s office and in the assessor’s office.
“I’m trying to get things back on the same page and just coincide together with the assessor’s office and the collector’s office,” Scott said. “I’ve seen the ins and outs of both offices and I’ve seen how important it is that they work together.”
Kaitlyn Rigdon can be reached at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].