We Can Do Better!

By Edward C. Streichman

The State Board of Equalization's organization structure is hindering - not helping California taxpayers

Modern business management theory suggests that successful organizations are flatter with non-supervisory employees given more responsibility to complete their tasks. The Board's organizational structure is anything but flat. Board headquarters contains a multitude of executive, managerial, supervisory, and rank-and-file employees.

Hence, the Board's organizational structure should be more akin to an upright pyramid with less employees in headquarters and more employees in the Board's field offices.

The transfer of a relatively small percentage of Board staff positions from headquarters to field offices throughout the State will correct this imbalance in the Board's workforce. More field positions will provide benefits for the State as well as the taxpayers which the Board serves:

1. Waiting times to consult with Board staff will be reduced.
2. Registration policies and procedures can be modified and improved to better educate taxpayers on how to properly report their sales and use tax liabilities.
3. Permits the department to emphasize education vs. auditing activities, which will yield significantly greater tax revenues.
4. Allows the department to conduct taxpayer outreach programs to assist various industries that have difficulty in applying and complying with tax laws and regulations.
5. Taxpayers will be able to consult with a live person vs. having to deal with department issues by mail, telephone or fax.

Implementation of my strategic plan will create all of the above enhancements to taxpayer services and will not require additional taxes, greater state expenditures or hiring more state workers.

Everybody wins with this plan!

Thank you for your support and interest.