It seems all is not done with our local school levy issue.
I mean, the election is over, and the levy failed. No question there. And while I’m still working with a group to develop a community plan to improve our schools, I thought the political part was over. Yes, I was against the district and the City of Columbus over this issue, but the vote has been taken, the people decided, and we’re all back on the same team again, right?
Not so much.
This weekend, Aaron and I received a letter from the City of Columbus, informing us that we’re having our city taxes audited for the previous three years. The letter was dated November 7, two days after the election.
Suspicious, no? (Read on, I’ll explain why I think this might have been in the works before the election.)
I’m not sure what new information the city offices could now have to trigger an audit of our personal taxes. The audit will likely cost taxpayers far more than anything they could possibly get from us if they determine TurboTax led us astray. We’re not a large corporation – we’re two individuals who didn’t have a lot of income over the past three years as we tried to get back on our feet after layoffs. I’m not a great public figure, either. This regular mom lives a very mundane life, with a very small corner of the internet to write out my opinions.
It’s already highly unusual for an individual to receive an audit notice from the city, so to receive one immediately after the election results, when I was directly involved in an election issue as the opposition of a plan the city and the mayor supported reeks of political retaliation.
I know I was one of the more public figures involved, and likely the one with the fewest political connections. It was hard to not know about me in the school levy issue. It was here that I posted the audio of the mayor’s rants from the PTA meeting. (Note: I didn’t record the audio, but I was the one who agreed to host it.) I spoke on Ann Fisher’s WOSU radio show twice, my name given each time. Also, it’s not hard to find my full name in connection to my blog. It’s really easy, in fact. Just look at my Twitter page.
And thanks to the magic of IP tracking and StatCounter, I know that people from the City of Columbus offices were using their public computers to read through this little blog throughout October, leading up to the election and beyond. Why the sudden interest? They never bothered to pay me a visit until I posted about the PTA meeting. [Edited to add: they’ve read this post today, too. *waves hi*] If they are doing this as retaliation, they’ve possibly been planning it for the last month, waiting to see the election outcome.
I’ve heard through different channels that the teacher’s union is also possibly using retaliation against a teacher who chose to speak out against the levy, attempting to silence that teacher through intimidation. I don’t know all of the details, but if it’s true, it’s deplorable behavior from the very union that is supposed to be working for and looking out for its teachers.
A part of me wanted to believe this was purely coincidental, but the more I think about it, the more I can’t believe that would be the case. An audit notice, issued immediately after the election results, for someone who was a public face of the opposition against the city’s plans for the school district? Sorry, that doesn’t feel coincidental. There’s no profit in auditing a couple who doesn’t own a business or make a lot of money, so we’re unusual targets for an audit to begin with, much less a city audit. No, I think I struck a nerve, and someone feels the need to turn that anger onto my family.
I am concerned that this could be direct political retaliation in an attempt for someone like me, with no political or powerful connections, to be forced into submission through punishment and fear. You dare to challenge the city? Here, we’ll show you who’s really in charge by auditing you to make your life hell.
Here’s the thing, though. Friends and family know that I’m not someone to go quietly into the night when someone tries to silence me. (Bloggers…opinionated loud-mouths.) Instead, I’ll take them on head-on, questioning if my civil rights are being infringed on and directly asking how our city government – my own political party, for goodness sakes! – could possibly have become so corrupt.
Shame on the mayor and this city government if they’re using their positions of power to enact political retribution against me through a tax audit. I didn’t realize citizens weren’t allowed to speak our own minds in Columbus. You haven’t intimidated me at all. Rather, you’ve made me wonder what else is rotten in our city government?
Maybe it’s time for an audit of the City of Columbus? Perhaps we need to root out the corruption and political games that some would choose to use their positions of power to play, and ensure our city leaders are doing their job of serving all of the city, as they were elected to do.
Wow, this is just so unbelievable. I heard you on WOSU last week and thought that all of your points were very valid even as someone who does not live in the Columbus School District. My father-in-law lives in Olentangy Schools and has tried to fight several levies and had his property vandalized and signs stolen from his yard in the past. It’s just crazy to me how people can behave sometimes and this is just about the worst kind of retaliation I’ve ever heard of……
WOW. I have a hard time swallowing this as a coincidence, too, but it pains me to believe that a city government would do such a thing! Not that I know much about city governments, but still. My husband has talked about getting involved with our county school board and this type of thing really gives me pause.
I’m not surprised at this in the least. This city is so corrupt and continues to brainwash its employees. Get this, I spoke with a younger city employee prior to the school levy vote and this person didn’t even know there was an opposition to the levy! I’m serious, no joke. I told them about the opposing organizations and they had no idea and couldn’t fathom why anyone would be against it. This is their own employee. I wouldn’t be surprised if you were targeted and that’s a travesty. Please keep the fight on. It’s people like you that keep overbloated governments in check.
Guess what, this is what the tax dept does, collect income taxes. It isn’t because you opposed the levy, it is because they are tasked to look for people who may not be paying their income taxes. I got one of these in Oct, but just ignore it because all my taxes are paid for my workplace, but my wifes are not so I get lumped in to the pot from having paid in years past and not doing so now. My two laws of taxes are, ignore requests for information (but file every year) just tell them to refer to the form and never admit you owe them money.
When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty.
Thomas Jefferson
I got audited for 7 years. The guy who has stalked me since 02/2007 alleged that I hadn't claimed all my income. Luckily, I pay a bonded income tax specialist to do my taxes, and the audit came out OK.
Keep in mind that every Columbus income tax return is audited. All of them. By a person. Every single one.
When you consider this, it makes sense why they run a few years behind. Great timing is not one of their strong points.
When they find a discrepancy, they send you a letter explaining what they found and happen to be very helpful and patient in explaining what happened.
Usually such issues are easily resolved with a phone call, or if your situation is complex, a visit with a CPA well versed in Ohio municipal taxes.
I was audited on Election day, for the first time ever, the city says I owe them $268, as Editor of the Columbus Free Press which opposed the Levy , I think you are being targeted.
Totally see this happening. When I worked in the Finance Dept we were required to help with fundraising for the Mayor's next election.
I owe every year thanks to the Mayor's 1/2 percent tax, which he says was to help the police. Perhaps if they eliminated tax abatements it would not be needed. Even if it is needed, so what, since we all have to cut back due to the corporations making more and paying us less and the mayor represents them and not us. Still, I never used to complain about taxes at all, but over the last number of years I see it all going to the rich or the military or the NSA, etc., so I am suspicious now of all tax. Well, at least the tax they say you owe is small, comparatively speaking. But you could be a different situation than me. If you work for Columbus State, they may take out the additional 1/2 percent through payroll, unlike my workplace. The audit may well have been and probably was a payback. Of course, the levy lost by such a wide margin that frankly it would have lost regardless of the support or non-support of the progressive community, in my view. So what is the need for payback? But to them, the mere act of being against what they wanted could be all they need.
Why I don't 1) live in Columbus. 2) shop in Columbus. Income tax, red light camera, sales tax. Render unto Caesar…. Well it is my money and Nationwide's Arena. Never been nor do I intend to visit the arena. They don't support the activities I prefer, why should I pay for theirs? Yeah $10 an hour part-time jobs are worth it. Please give me a break.
City Code Enforcement is submitting me to double jeopardy for the second time regarding my home and property. They tried to take me to trial twice in the environmental court for petty and/or non-existent violations. Both times the city's attorney (prosecutor) did not take cases to trial. The first time Judge Harland Hale dismissed case based on recommendation of Prosecutor Jody Spurlock. Tell me why city code enforcement is allowed to currently threaten to file a third case despite the fact that I have been in compliance with all past agreements. Also, code enforcement is threatening to re-file a new complaint a mere three months after Judge Liston dismissed this same complaint based on the recommendation of Prosecutor Shawnda Martin. If this isn't "double jeopardy" nothing is … my main issue with all this is wasting my time going back and forth to courthouse and being subject to pay court costs even though the case gets dismissed.