News Release
January 10, 2007 - New State Tax
Team in Place
COLUMBUS, Ohio - New Tax Commissioner
Richard Levin today, in one of his first official acts,
announced his management team at a meeting of Ohio Department
of Taxation (ODT) administrators in Columbus.
Levin began work Monday, returning to lead the department
where he worked for 20 years beginning in 1971 as a
researcher and leaving in 1991 as a deputy director. Levin
left to form a consulting firm in Columbus that focused on
state budget and tax policy issues. He left the firm when
Ohio Governor Ted Strickland appointed him to the state’s top
tax job.
Levin says he’s excited to be back but says things have
changed since he last worked at ODT, “The employees are
better trained, more professional and use far more
sophisticated technology than before,” he observed.
Levin is in charge of a department with more than 1,400
employees that is responsible for collecting more than $24
billion in general revenues to fund the many services
delivered or funded by state government.
To help with those responsibilities, Levin today unveiled a
group of veteran senior managers.
Levin appointed Fred Church as deputy tax commissioner for
policy and budget. He will be in charge of the research,
budget, legislation and communication divisions.
Fred Nicely will remain as chief legal counsel overseeing tax
appeals, appeals management and the enforcement divisions.
Nicely will also be the department’s chief ethics officer.
Rick Anthony was chosen to be deputy tax commissioner for
compliance and audit. His responsibilities will include
administering personal and business taxes, information
technology and human resources.
Levin also appointed Carol Mahaffey to be deputy tax
commissioner for real estate taxes. She will assist the tax
commissioner in communicating with local officials on various
tax matters. Mahaffey was with ODT in the 1980’s and is
currently a tax attorney in Columbus. She will join the
department at the end of this month.
“I am thrilled to have them all,” said Levin. “I know they
will do a great job for the state.”
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(For more information, contact Mike McKinney, public
information officer, at 614.466.5461)