Computer glitch causes billing delay By LYNN BULMAHN Staff Writer DELAND - To err is human, but to really foul things up requires a computer. And contractors around Volusia County are finding that the county's computers are all too human when it comes to billing them for re-inspections.

County officials say a glitch in a computer program, only recently discovered, caused a long delay in the billing - as much as seven or eight years, in some cases. Various businesses are just now receiving letters telling them how much they owe. They're being billed for times when county building inspectors made subsequent visits to construction sites that had failed inspections.

Dave Byron, Volusia County's community information director, said that some $24,000 in uncollected fees was uncovered. "Most of them are $25 charges," he added. "The earliest one is from 1992."

The letters tell contractors they will not be issued new permits if they don't pony up right away.

While some contractors are no longer in business, Byron said he expects the county will collect about $20,000 total.

"I'm one of the lucky ones who can laugh because we only had two" unpaid bills from 1994 and 1996, said Millie Doherty, co-owner of Custom Pools by Danny. "But I wonder why they're so late. There should be a statute of limitations." She said the county never sent her any notice before now.

Swimming pool contractor Buzz Davis said he received a bill totaling $706 for several inspections dating back to 1993. "It's ridiculous to wait this long," he said.

Byron said not all notices have been mailed yet. He said officials would "sit down and listen to anyone who has a true hardship" in paying the unexpected bill.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/2000/Aug/23/AREA5.htm

-- Doris (reaper1@mindspring.com), August 23, 2000