BEAT BYTE: Skip Deming Car Registered In Montana

COLUMBIA, 2/13/09 (Beat Byte) -- Since Skip Deming made his debut Tuesday as a candidate for Columbia Public Schools superintendent, a rumor has rounded the blogs: that he registered one or more vehicles out of state to avoid paying Missouri taxes.

Interim superintendent Jim Ritter confirmed the rumor late this afternoon.

"I spoke with Skip Deming," Ritter told the Heart Beat. "Here are the facts of the matter: He has an RV licensed in Missouri; a Jeep licensed in Missouri; a utility trailer licensed in Missouri; and a 2005 BMW licensed in Montana. A number of his friends told him they were doing it for some tax advantage, and he did it too. It runs out this year, and Skip said he will be changing the plates back to Missouri."

The tax-avoidance issue came up when people leaving Mr. Deming's community conference Tuesday evening saw him drive away in a "luxury car," allegedly with Montana plates. Deming is a long-time resident of Columbia who lives on a cul-de-sac called Hallbrook Court.

"On my way to the forum this evening, I drove through the parking lot, and there I saw the vehicle belonging to Mr. Deming with Montana plates!" wrote FrankL, on the Columbia Tribune's Homeroom blog Feb. 10. "I had heard that he titles his vehicles there to avoid paying taxes here. Interesting that the district would hire someone to run our district, and ask us for more taxes, yet he avoids paying them! Jonathan [Bradon], please do some investigation into this!"

Property taxes are public schools' primary revenue source, and in Boone County, property taxes on vehicles can be particularly onerous, given Assessor Schauwecker's personal take on the law -- taxation of cars and trucks via vehicle identification numbers (VIN), a tax-booster unique among Missouri counties.

Receiving additional tips about Mr. Deming and the tax issue, I left two messages, increasingly urgent, at his local telephone number. I even drove by his home, hoping to catch a glimpse of the errant vehicle and ask him a question or two.

Then early today I received this information:

"Skip has returned to Tuscon. He and his wife have been there since January. Their vehicles, particularly the BMW and the RV, are commonly known among administrative and teaching staff. I am so close to the situation, it would seriously negatively affect my family for me to be identified. Suggestion: ask Dr. Ritter."

So I did. The interim superintendent was forthright, confirming that Deming had been in Arizona, traveling via RV. "But I have no idea where or how he registers his cars or the RV," Ritter explained. "It's not something I'd have any reason to inquire about, and though I've seen his car, I never paid attention to the plates."

Finally, late this afternoon came the rumor's confirmation.

"Skip called me," Dr. Ritter said. "I did ask him the questions about his vehicles. The BMW is registered in Montana."

-- Mike Martin for the Columbia Heart Beat

(Deming photo linked to from Columbia Daily Tribune )