OH, $10 million mistake blamed on computer glitch

By ED BALINT Repository staff writer

CANTON  The Stark County treasurer reported earlier this month that his office had reduced delinquent taxes to about $3.2 million.

The figure was off by nearly $10 million.

A computer glitch caused the error.

The faulty figure came to light after Richard Regula investigated the report by Treasurer Gary Zeigler.

Regula is facing Zeigler in the fall election for treasurer.

Regula says he was greatly concerned that the office was reporting erroneous information. Zeigler says his office simply was using information supplied by the countys Data Processing Division, which he believed to be correct.

I think in the treasurers office theres got to be trust, Regula said Thursday, and we have to believe the numbers from the treasurers office.

Zeigler, meanwhile, said his office was given five computer printouts with inaccurate tax delinquency figures before he received an accurate one.

Im very glad that someone brought it to our attention, he said of Regula.

Believe me, if I would have made a mistake, Id accept the responsibility for making a mistake, but the mistake was made I feel from the data processing department.

On May 10, Zeigler reported that late taxes were down 65 percent since October. He said the error will change the figure, but the new percentage wasnt available Thursday.

Zeigler has been using an Internet Web site, which lists tax cheats, and foreclosures to collect late taxes.

Zeigler said his office collected $10.7 million in late taxes last year.

Data Processing Programming Director Jim Henderson said a computer software program, which the treasurers office uses, caused the error with the $3.2 million figure, which he believes has been occurring since 1985.

A missing digit in the software program printed a figure of $3,270,459.36 instead of the correct numbers: $13,270,459.36, according to Henderson.

The figure represents the countys total delinquent taxes, not including residents who make payments on contract.

Glenn Owens, department manager of the treasurer's office, said he doesnt recall an error of that magnitude occurring before.

Stark County Auditor Janet Creighton and Henderson said they believe its the responsibility of county departments to report errors to data processing.

It is his responsibility to peruse his reports, Auditor Janet Weir Creighton said of Zeigler. Its not (data processings) responsibility.

Regula said he was surprised that the treasurers office didnt notice that the $3.2 million figure was too low, considering the 80 taxing districts in Stark County.

I think theres been a lot of smoke coming out of the office, he said. I mean, the Web site (that lists tax delinquents) sounds like a good idea, and he claims its bringing in all this money, but I want to look at the numbers and the facts.

Zeigler and Owens said they had no reason to question the information, especially since it was on multiple printouts.

Regula also questioned why the treasurers office didnt discover the error sooner, since the office had requested a tax-delinquent printout on May 9, a few days after the office had reported the $3.2-million figure.

Data processing gave another printout to the treasurer's office May 13, containing the right figure of $13.2 million in delinquent taxes. It wasnt clear how the error was discovered, then corrected in the May 13 report.

Zeigler said his office asked for the printout at a residents request, and he had no reason to analyze it and find the changed figure.

I dont think it was done intentionally, Zeigler said of the error. I think it was an honest mistake and hopefully it wont happen again, because were real proud of keeping accurate records for the public.

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-- Doris (number9@mindspring.com), May 29, 2000