The State Department of Revenue and Finance is warning they may be behind schedule in issuing tax refunds to Iowans this year. The Department had hoped to collect 400-thousand dollars in administrative fees from school districts, which have a one-cent local option tax. The collection of those fees has been held up after school districts complained. Division Administrator Cindy Orton says that leaves them with a budget hole. Orton says they hope to avoid any delay in sending out refunds, but says they just don’t have enough people to get the job done on time. Republican State Representative Janet Metcalf of Urbandale says the Revenue and Finance Department has enough money to work with.Metcalf says the Department has a 30-million dollar budget and they should be able to find the money to do the job. Metcalf says the department should have brought the issue to the Legislature’s attention sooner. Metcalf says the school districts see this as unfair.Metcalf says if the Department truly needs the money, it can tighten its belt this year and seek an increase from the legislature in January.
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