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The Comptroller’s office has released its list of Maryland’s top delinquent taxpayers. At the top is Remote Surveillance Tech Solutions Inc., based in Temple Hills, which allegedly owes $430,262 in withholding. One corporate officer, Alphonso A. Tillman, owes the state $136,468.90, according to the Comptroller’s list.

From the list:

“No one is above the tax laws. If you don’t want to see your name posted on our site along with other tax delinquents, be sure to keep up with your tax obligations.”

This is definitely one list you don’t want to make. To see who is on it, check out the link.

A bill that would change the definition of beer to include flavored malt beverages has created a little bit of controversy.

It’s all about the taxes. Malt beverages, like Smirnoff Ice, are taxed as spirits, while beer is taxed at a lower rate. Opponents of the bill — who call these “youth-targeted alcopops” don’t want to reduce the price of those drinks because they think they appeal to an underage audience.

The bill has passed the Senate and is awaiting House action.

I called a few Annapolis-area liquor stores to check how these things compare. It’s actually pretty substantial, though I don’t profess to have done any scientific surveying.

Smirnoff Ice ranges around $8 per six pack, while Budweiser is generally less than $6.

Now about the argument … I can’t tell if it’s true that flavored malt beverages really are a bigger draw for younger drinkers. I would never drink one because they are revolting and they give me heartburn, and I’ve known that for years.

Maryland’s state government gets a “B” in management, according to a report issued this month by the Pew Center on the States. It’s a pretty good rating, compared with the rest of the country (Virginia beats us with an “A-,“ and is tied with Utah and Washington State for tops on the list).

One of the most prominent issues in the study is government accountability.

The Pew researchers took quite a shine to Gov. Martin O’Malley and his work in last year’s special tax-raising legislative session. It also lauds the goals of O’Malley’s StateStat performance measurement program, but faults aspects of the state’s information technology system.

“The impact of StateStat will not be known for a long time—there are obvious snags in converting a city system to a much larger entity with less-than-spectacular information technology,” the report (check it out) reads, comparing the system to Baltimore’s CitiStat system. “But promoters of StateStat believe that the obstacles can be overcome and that the system will generate savings proportional to the millions accrued in Baltimore.”

How’d you like to vote on every tax increase for the rest of your life? Some lawmakers here in Annapolis think that would be the most fair system, and are looking to change the law.

Senator cum Republican Congressional Nominee Andy Harris is the lead sponsor of the Maryland Taxpayer Protection Act, which would require a two-thirds vote in the General Assembly and ballot approval for any tax increase or expansion

It is due for a thrice-postponed hearing in the Senate today, so we’ll see how it goes. Would it be too much to ask taxpayers to vote on every tax change? Are your elected representatives accountable enough? I guess this is what happens when lawmakers raise taxes during the first year of a four-year term.