Last Thursday, Foster Arnett got major props here in the Knoxville News Sentinel for showing up at the Audit Committee and informing him that he has continues to collect and has collected some $345,000.00 in hotel occupancy tax. Of course, remember Arnett is the President of the Knoxville News Sentinel Charities Board, so he is their golden boy. The fact is that until this summer he was evidently ignorant that collecting the hotel tax was his responsibilty. In September 22, it was reported here in the KNS to be consider the hiring of an in house (clerk’s office) auditor to review the hotel tax payments. Of course all this after the July discovery as reported here that Arnett had not collected almost $500,000.00 in tax. Of course all this after Arnett was elected in 2008 and taking office 9/1/2008, this malfeasance of duties nearly 7 years. Also, do not forget that in February he sued the Public Building Authority (an entity that takes our tax dollars to operate) over his office building, in essence suing you the tax payer.
Now, today Knox County Criminal Court Clerk Mike Hammond appeared before the Knox County Commission detailing how after taking office on 9/1/2014, he and his staff discovered an account of over $2.0 million dollars dating back 40 years. After working with the State of Tennessee and paying the interest owed to the State. Ultimately, Clerk Hammond returned in the neighborhood of $1.5 million to Knox County’s General Fund. In addition, when he took office the office did not have enough money to meet three months payroll. Knox County had to front the money to bring the office to a level to meet payroll. Today the office is solvent.
So, you decide 7 years of dereliction of duty or patch and repair the ship and get it sailing again?
