State Slow Sending Tax Refunds

Alabama taxpayers expecting refunds may
have to wait a little longer than usual before getting a check this
year.
State Revenue Commissioner Tim Russell says the state is about
20 percent behind last year in the number of refunds returned to
taxpayers. Alabama paid $88 million in refunds from Jan. 1 to Feb.
26, compared with the same period last year.
Russell says a reason for the delay is that the revenue
department hired about 60 part-time clerks to help process tax
returns last year. But Russell says no temporary clerks were hired
this year because of budget cuts caused by the recession.
State Finance Director Jim Main told members of the Rotary Club
of Montgomery Monday that when income tax money comes into the
state it is first used for education expenses before used to pay
refunds.