Letters.Missed Point It was with interest that I read you article entitled en·ti·tle tr.v. en·ti·tled, en·ti·tling, en·ti·tles 1. To give a name or title to. 2. To furnish with a right or claim to something: "Scientology In Property Tax Dispute" (Feb. 25 issue). If one reads your article fully, one will discover the well-buried details that reveal amicable am·i·ca·ble adj. Characterized by or exhibiting friendliness or goodwill; friendly. [Middle English, from Late Latin am , though complex negotiations between the Church and the Tax Assessors Office are proceeding. You even point out that the Church subsidiary that owns most of these properties has been granted a tax-exempt status since 1987. You point out far from not paying taxes due, that the Church has actually made partial payments in amounts that it considers in excess of what is due (that is, the Church expects a refund TO REFUND. To pay back by the party who has received it, to the party who has paid it, money which ought not to have been paid. 2. On a deficiency of assets, executors and administrators cum testamento annexo, are entitled to have refunded to them legacies ). It seems to me that a more accurate headline for this article would be "Church and Tax Assessor Reaching Agreement." Mac Graham InnTechnology Inc. Glendale Upon reading your article "Scientology In Property Tax Dispute" I wonder whether the intent of the article is to publish business news or some other agenda. That the Church is negotiating the tax-exempt status of its properties with the county is a normal activity. While it is true that properties "could be subject to sale," it appears from the article that the county and Church have just not come to an agreement as of yet. I'm sure there are many property tax disputes in progress in L.A. County. Why select this one to publicize pub·li·cize tr.v. pub·li·cized, pub·li·ciz·ing, pub·li·ciz·es To give publicity to. publicize or -cise Verb [-cizing, -cized] ? Bradford Bernstein Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Accounting Standards I enjoyed reading the article "Auditors AUDITORS, practice. Persons lawfully appointed to examine and digest accounts referred to them, take down the evidence in writing, which may be lawfully offered in relation to such accounts, and prepare materials on which a decree or judgment may be made; and to report the whole, together Targeted for Blame as Disclosure System Fails" (Dec. 17, 2001). The primary theme appears to be that the Big Five accounting firms should address the inherent conflict of interest that exists when accounting firms provide both auditing and consulting services Noun 1. consulting service - service provided by a professional advisor (e.g., a lawyer or doctor or CPA etc.) service - work done by one person or group that benefits another; "budget separately for goods and services" to their clients. The article also correctly pointed out that "accounting firms sometimes assign inexperienced in·ex·pe·ri·ence n. 1. Lack of experience. 2. Lack of the knowledge gained from experience. in people to conduct major portions of public company audits" and that "accounting firms tend to spread their senior people too thin." Yet at the same time, the article indicates that the financial statements of any public company not audited by a Big Five accounting firm may be "suspect." There are many national, regional and local accounting firms that provide quality auditing services to publicly held companies. In contrast to the Big Five firms, however, the audit fees charged by these non-Big Five firms typically represent a significant portion of the total fees charged to these companies. Consulting engagements with fees in excess of the amounts charged for the audits of these companies is rare. Also, non-Big Five firms tend to assign their more experienced auditors to these engagements. Maybe having only Big Five firms as auditors is not the answer. We believe non-Big Five firms perform quality audits and should not raise a "red flag." David L. Swartz Good Swartz Brown & Beens LLP LLP - Lower Layer Protocol Los Angeles |
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