Newly inducted members and old members of the Norlina
High School Beta Club include, front row, |left to right], Mary
Lou Traylor, Freda Hight, Debra Seward, Oita Cheston, Shawn
Cheston. parlimentarian; Patricia Hicks, secretary; Marine
Campbell, president; Alton Fleming, vice-president; Rosa
Durham, reporter; Debra White, Wendy Curtis and Glenda
Stultz. Second row, Danylu Palmer, Charles Ellington, Donna
Stegall, Gary Holtzman, Pat Brantley, Debbie Hicks, Tommie
Craft, Lynn Tucker and Mrs. Vilma J. Gatling, advisor.
Huge Flow Found
Taxable Sick Pay Prompts
Comments From Congressman
B\ RF.P. L. H FOUNTAIN
WASHINGTON. D. C.- As
the April 15 deadline for filing
Federal inco.me tax returns
arrives, many people devote
much of their time and energies
to getting in under the wire. A
lot of taxpayers. 1 imagine, filed
their returns early—in order to
get the ordeal out of the way, or
to speed up the process of
getting a refund, if one is
expected.
But this tax filing season has
been of particular worry and
concern to at least one very
important segment of our
people—those who, because of
work-related illness or physical
disability, have been looking at
a possible sharp increase in
taxable income—and in the
amount of actual taxes
paid—because of sick pay being
counted as taxable.
Prior to this year, sick pay
was largely excluded from
gross income figures. Sick pay
included amounts received by
employees under so-called
"wage continuation plans"
when personal injury or illness
made it necessary for the wage
and salary earner to be absent
from work. Persons receiving a
disability pension, for example,
often used the sick pay
exclusion—money received in
this manner did not have to be
figured into taxable income.
When the massive and
far-ranging Tax Reform Act of
1976 was enacted last fall, as
the Congress was adjourning
for the year, it was provided
that the sick pay exclusion be
ended. But, regrettably, the
date of its demise was made
retroactive to January 1, 1976.
In other words, many people
who had been receiving
compensation which legally
would be excluded from their
1976 taxes were suddenly faced
with the prospect of having to
pay an unexpected tax on that
portion of their income.
Needless to say, many
people—for example, the disabled.
the sick, or the
infirm—will be hard put this
spring to come up with one
large lump sum to pay the
added tax — an additional tax
which really had no way of
being contemplated during the
year. And as a result, these
taxpayers had no way to adjust
their withholding rates accord
inglv.
Beyond question, arguments
can be made both ways on the
merits or the drawbacks of a
sick pay exclusion plan. But to
me, it just was not fair and
equitable to require so many
people — a lot of whom were
retired senior citizens living on
fixed incomes — to be suddenly
forced to pay a tax which they
did not know would be levied.
The timing of the change — the
taking away of the deduction —
presented a real and genuine
hardship to many citizens.
Consequently, the House has
passed a bill which puts the
effective date of the change at
January 1, 1977. The change
would not come into play until
next year's tax returns.
Unfortunately, this bill was
held up in the Senate before the
Easter recess and therefore
won't go into effect before April
15th. Hopefully, the Senate will
approve it soon thereafter. If
so, those who have to pay now
could file amended returns.
In any event, it is my understanding
that the House Ways
and Means Committee — the
Committee charged with considering
all tax legislationmay
look into changing the law
and keeping the exclusion in
future years. But that, of
course, remains to be seen.
It is highly important —
essential — that taxpayers be
given opportunities to take
their personal financial affairs
into account and arrange them
accordingly — to plan for
emergencies, for example.
As I mentioned earlier, the
1976 withdrawal of the
exclusion hits worst at those
who suffered illness or injury
on the job, and others living on
fixed incomes. All of our people
need to have confidence in our
tax laws. Most people. I think,
substantially agree with the
notion that each of us must pay
his or her fair share of the tax
load. But, I think most people
reject, rightfully and justifiably.
the idea that those least
able to pay. due to disability —
either on a temporary, or on a
more permanent basis — should
he made to undergo a heavier
share of the burden than is just
— especially suddenly and
unexpectedly.
Trying to insure an equitable
and responsible tax system
which provides essential funds
for efficient and worthwhile
purposes should always be the
watchword of legislators —
those charged with being the
stewards and guardians of the
public purse. At the same time.
I think it would be fair and
proper to extend the sick pay
exclusion for at least a year.
Leo Club Activity
Reported At Meet
The Warrenton Lions Club
entertained the Leo Club at its
regular meeting Monday night
at the Lions Den.
John Capps, president of the
Leo Club, was in charge of the
program and reported on
various activities of the Leo
Club during the year.
Lion Jimmie Roberts, president
of the club, said yesterday
that some 16 members of the
Leo Club, Lions Youth Club
from Warren County, would
spend the weekend at Camp
Dogwood on a camping trip.
l'si,ng a new radar system,
scientists have found evidence
of a lava flow the size of the
state of Oklahoma on the planet
Venus.
Maxine Campbell New
NHS Beta President
Maxine Campbell was installed
president of the Norlina
High School Beta club at the
41st annual Installation Ceremony
held in the Norlina
Gymtorium on Friday, April 8,
at 9:30 a. m.
Other officers installed for
the 1977-78 school year were:
Alton Fleming, vice-president;
Patricia Hicks, secretary;
Shawn Cheston. parliamentar
iari and Rosa Durham, reporter.
Patricia Hicks. President of
the club, spoke to the assembly
about desirable conduct for
students.
New members inducted
during the candlelight ceremony
wre Shawn Cheston,
Wendy Curtis, Rosa Durham,
Chui-k Ellington. Alton Flem
ing. Debbie Hicks, Freda Hight,
CORRECTION
I'sing information supplied
The Warren Record, a front
page picture of Connie Hyman
of South Warren High School in
a special edition of April 1, was
listed as Sympathy Clark of
North Warren. We regret the
error.
Donna Stegall, Glenda Stultz
and Debra White.
Mrs. Vilma J. Gatling and
Miss Mildred Meredith are cosponsors
of the club.
Odd Man Out
Divide a deck of cards in
half. Have someone pick a
card from one half and put it
in the other half. Shuffle the
half with the "secret" card.
Fan the cards out and pick
out the "secret" one.
You can learn how to do
many tricks like this by reading
the secrets on Dixie Magic
Tricks Cups for Kids. The
secret of this one was that the
odd cards, Ace, 3,5,7,9, Jack
and King were put together
before starting, and the even
cards were together. Don't
mix them when dividing the
deck and the secret card will
be the even one in the odd
half or the odd one in the
even half.
Word Received Of Boating Death
WILMINGTON - John
Tunstall Welch, Sr., 65, of
Westfield, died March 14, as
the result of a boating accident.
Mr. Welch was born in
Warrenton on May 25, 1911,
and was the son of the late John
C. and Betty Tharrington
Welch. He was retired from the
N. C. State Health Department.
Surviving are his wife, Mrs.
Eleanor Burns Welch of the
home: a daughter, Ms. Eleanor
Elizabeth Welch of Durham;
two sons, Dr. John T. Welch,
Jr., of Akron, Ohio, and Robert
B. Welch of South Boston, V».;
five sisters, Mrs. Lizzie W.
Ayscue and Mrs. J. T. Coker,
Sr., both of Henderson, Mrs.
Annie Lee Hardee of Green
ville. Mrs. Sue Myrick of Nwkville,
and Mrs. Louise Hilburn
of Council; > brother, itiomas
B. Welch of Henderson and four
grandchildren. *
Funeral services were held at
2 p. m. last Monday in the Acme
Presbyterian Church with the
Rev. William P. Brown
officiating. Interment was in
the Weyman Methodist Church
Cemetery near Riegelwood.
Masonic rites were accorded by
Waccamaw Uxlge 5%, A.F. &
A.M.
Plaque Marks Site
A plaque marks the spot in
Baltimore where the first ice
cream plant was established in
mi.: . . ■■ ..
Henderson, North Carolina
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