LITTLE ROCK — Four of six Arkansas constitutional officers said they paid money to the state after a series of articles last year found that most of those officers were not paying income taxes for personal use of state vehicles.
In July 2010, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette found that then-Lt. Gov. Bill Halter was the only constitutional officer paying income taxes for personal use of his state vehicle. The five others who drove state vehicles said they thought they were exempt.
The seventh constitutional officer, Gov. Mike Beebe, is driven by state police, and his office has no other state vehicles, according to data from the Department of Finance and Administration.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Halter said in July 2010 that he had paid income taxes during his time in office for personal use of a 2007 Ford Explorer. He would not say Wednesday how much he had paid.
“Typically, I don’t answer questions about my taxes,” he said.
Current Lt. Gov. Mark Darr drives his own vehicle and receives mileage reimbursement when he travels on official business, spokesman Sarah Beth Lowe said Thursday.
Lowe said the office, under Halter, sold the vehicle in December 2010 and currently does not have a vehicle.
ATTORNEY GENERAL
In July 2010, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel paid his office $2,903.19 for past personal use when he turned in the 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe he had been driving,spokesman Aaron Sadler said. McDaniel said at the time that he didn’t have to pay income taxes for personal use of the vehicle. Sadler specified that the money was a reimbursement and not income tax.
Sadler said McDaniel no longer uses a state vehicle to commute or for personal use.
There are currently 16 vehicles assigned to the attorney general’s office.
SECRETARY OF STATE
Former Secretary of State Charlie Daniels said in July 2010 that he would pay income tax for personal use ofa 2008 Chevrolet Suburban. Daniels is now state auditor.
Spokesman Janet Harris said last week that Daniels submitted amended returns to the Internal Revenue Service on Aug. 4-5, 2010, and to the state Income Tax Division on Aug. 2, 2010.
She said he paid three years of taxes “upon the advice and consultation of his accountant.”
Harris said Daniels would not say how much he paid,calling it personal.
Current Secretary of State Mark Martin uses a state vehicle from the office pool for official visits but not to commute, spokesman Alex Reed said.
There are 20 vehicles assigned to the secretary of state’s office, down 10 from October 2010.
TREASURER On April 1, Treasurer Martha Shoffner paid $354 in back income taxes on personal use of a 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe in 2009, the office’s interim chief deputy DebbieRogers said.
Currently, the treasurer’s office is the only office that lists a constitutional officer as having a vehicle specifically assigned to the officeholder. A 2008 Chevrolet Impala sedan is listed as being used by the state treasurer for “transportation owing to duties as Treasurer of State.” Rogers said the vehicle is not used to commute. Rogers said the Impala is used by all staff members. The office has two other unassigned vehicles.
LAND COMMISSIONER A May 2010 article found that former Land Commissioner Mark Wilcox had used two state vehicles for mostly personal purposes, including a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado on his farm in Greenbrier.
A Wilcox spokesman said in July 2010 that Wilcox would “comply with the IRS rules and regulations.”
Wilcox did not return phone calls last week.
Current land commissioner’s office spokesman Nik ki Heck said Wilcox left no documentation behind proving that he had repaid the taxes.
Current Land Commissioner John Thurston uses a state vehicle for official business only, Heck said.
“He does not commute in one, he has a personal vehicle,” Heck said.
There are six vehicles assigned to the office, according to state finance department data.
AUDITOR
Former Auditor Jim Wood drove a state-issued 2007 Lincoln Town Car. He said in July 2010 that he would payback income taxes on personal use of the vehicle.
He did not return phone calls last week.
There are three vehicles currently assigned to the auditor’s office, none of which are assigned to a particular person.
Front Section, Pages 7 on 11/06/2011