The state Finance and Administration Department’s listing of delinquent taxpayers says that Mama’s Manna in Little Rock was served a closure notice for delinquent sales and use tax on Monday, Jan. 22.
That’s the bakery owned by freshman state Rep. Ed Garner of Maumelle. He told us, in a call from the bakery where he said he was working to get his papers in order, that the amount delinquent is likely small because he’s been away for legislative work and turnover at his small business has also set him back. He said he was cited for failure to turn in monthly reports.
“I’ve been there before,” he said. “They’re doing their job. It’s a fair law. I”ve got to get caught up.”
UPDATE: Details from DF&A make the situation sound a little stickier. The agency has tax liens filed for the period August 1998 through July 2006 totaling $46,470. A new period covered by a tougher law that allows closure of businesses that miss three payments in the most recent 24 months covers the period between August 2005-2006. A spokesman said liens had been filed for $1,585 in that period, with an unspecified amount also owed but not subject yet to lien. Garner has until the close of business Monday to settle the portion owed under the busines closure law or the business will be closed.
State legislators have been found in arrears on taxes before. In one accounting in 1999, 10 legislators turned up on state delinquency lists.