Sheister Accounting

Our buddies at the Gazette say there's a question about Schweitzer's accounting method that he used to come up with extra tax refunds. Apparently "non-standard accounting" was used to get the state's budget surplus up high enough to justify even more refunds.

Now, I like more refunds as much as the next guy. By which I mean, I don't like them as much as I would have liked permanent tax relief. But I don't think it's OK to use bad accounting to make it happen.

If we can just fudge the numbers however we want so the taxpayers get more back, then I'll be making some changes in the way I do my state income taxes next year. And when the Department of Revenue comes calling, I'll just quote David Ewer to them: "If you want to make the argument for less in tax rebates, that's your business."