By KWGS News/Associated Press
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kwgs/local-kwgs-943859.mp3
Tulsa, OK – TULSA, Okla. (AP) Tulsa officials say the city plans to hire private auditors in an effort to increase collections of delinquent sales taxes.
Mayor Dewey Bartlett signed a contract in principle last May with Revenue Discovery Systems of Birmingham, Ala., before the Oklahoma Legislature passed a law that allows only the state Tax Commission to handle sales-tax collections.
The city has sued over the new law.
The Alabama firm signed a contract with Global Asset Management of Tulsa to provide two auditors. Danny George, a spokesman for Global Asset, tells the Tulsa World the auditors have been certified by the Tax Commission to conduct independent compliance audits of local businesses.
Bartlett's chief of staff, Terry Simonson, says the city wants the auditors to start their work "as soon as possible."