Knox County Clerk Foster Arnett, Jr. stood before the Knox County Commission today asking for approval of a solicitor id fee (aka tax) Arnett proposes a $55 per month ($660 a year) tax on any person (NOT COMPANY, EACH SALES PERSON) that solicits door to door. Cable, grass and lawn service, newspaper, magazine, insurance etc. You name it, Arnett wants to tax it.

Arnett acknowledged today that the Sheriffs Department background check is a one time $10 fee. But Arnett wants to clear $45 the first month and $55 a month every month thereafter. Have you been to the Clerk’s office recently? The wait is already 45 minutes or more without a solicitors id line.

Is this an indication that Arnett doesn’t have the Clerks financial house in order? Has he over extended his fee office with the relocation of the East Town Mall satellite office to a former high scale jewelry store, with the extensive renovation many video cameras were installed. A minimum of one camera for at least every employee has been installed.

When Commissioners Mike Brown and Robert Lawrence Smith began vetting this tax with questions of Arnett and that the tax was clearly losing the grease on the tracks. Commission Chairman Brad Anders moved to defer action until June.

If you do not think a NEW $660 Knox County tax is appropriate on the backs of entrepreneurial blue collar or student then contact your County Commissioners and demand they reject the Arnett tax.