Taney County Collector Sheila Wyatt says an error which occurred over a period of years, will likely take years to resolve.  A programming error in the Collector’s office resulted in funds being erroneously distributed to the Kirbyville school district, even though the funds were meant for other schools.  Wyatt tells HometownDailyNews.com the error dates back 10 years, to when the program was installed in 2001…

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Wyatt says on January 13, an employee of the Kirbyville School District contacted her for guidance in understanding a report issued once a year, dealing with state and local railroad and utility taxes.  She says the employee told her she’s new at the job, so Wyatt pulled the tax book to explain the origin of the tax, and discovered the error.  As for a solution, Wyatt says she has been referred to officials in Cole County, where a similar situation occurred, but over a longer period of time, affecting all districts in the county.  In that case, the parties have agreed that the collector should withhold distribution from those entities receiving too much money, with the funds being placed into an escrow account for those receiving too little.  The Kirbyville School District refers all questions to a St. Louis law firm, which has declined further comment. 

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Taney County Collector Sheila Wyatt says she’ll work with the affected school districts toward a solution to the issues caused by an error in a computer program.  Wyatt tells HometownDailyNews.com the error, which dates back to the program’s installation in 2001, resulted in funds being distributed to the Kirbyville school district, even though they were meant for other schools.  Wyatt says she discovered the error January 13, and spent last week contacting and meeting with the various districts…

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Wyatt says she hopes to meet with all parties involved, with an eye toward agreement on a solution which causes the least amount of harm to any school district, program or student.  She says that because the error occurred over a period of years, a solution would likely take years as well.  The Kirbyville School District refers all questions to aS t. Louislaw firm, which has declined further comment. 

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A programming error dating back 10 years means funds erroneously paid to Kirbyville schools must be recovered and distributed to the proper districts.  Taney County Collector Sheila Wyatt says the error has apparently been in place since a computer program was installed in her office in 2001.  She discovered the error on January 13, when a Kirbyville school employee contacted her for help in understanding a report issued once a year, dealing with state and local railroad and utility taxes…

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Wyatt says she contacted state officials, who urged her to consult with Cole County, now dealing with a similar error which occurred over a longer period of time, and affected all entities.  In that case, the parties have agreed that the collector should withhold distribution from those entities receiving too much money, with the funds being placed into an escrow account for those receiving too little.  The Kirbyville School District refers all questions to a St. Louis law firm, which has declined further comment.