Pat Gallagher/The Valdosta Daily Times

VALDOSTA — The words “economic stimulus” provoke both smiles and frowns from just about anyone whose ears receive that transmission nowadays.

But they also draw furrowed brows of confusion to many a face when queried about the federal program aimed at bolstering the economy by giving money to spend to those of us who qualify.

When will I get my money? How much will I get? Will it be taxed? Do I have to write it off as income on my next year’s income tax return? Should I save it or buy that new flat screen TV I’ve always wanted with it?

Residents polled last week at the Valdosta Mall and a local music equipment store had wide and varied opinions on the program. Many said it’s a great idea but the government needs to send more money. Others said they have already made plans for how to spend it when it comes.

And a few offered up some feisty responses that could grow hair on a bald man.

Asked for his opinion, Valdostan Raymond Bell, who was hovering over a healthy looking submarine sandwich at the mall food court, offered this response.

“You want to talk about economic stimulus? Have a seat then,” Bell invited. Then he unleashed.

“I am thinking about mailing my check back when I get it,” Bell said. “I am opposed to the rebate. It is a redistribution of wealth in this country. I think they are trying to buy votes.”

That was just for starters.

“To make that worse, they had to borrow the money to pay it out, and with our federal deficit as large as it is, that’s just crazy,” Bell continued. “We have the poorest leadership in our government since the days of Herbert Hoover. They are inept.”

Bell, who said he is a retired businessman, said he had no idea how much he’s supposed to get back or when it is supposed to arrive.

“If I get anything, I’ll probably save it towards paying next year’s income taxes. But I am really thinking about mailing that check right back to them,” he said.

Bell wasn’t alone in his sentiments. But more folks than not said they’ll keep the money. For those who wonder when it will arrive, consider the following information gathered from the Internal Revenue Service Web site at www.irs.gov, and see the chart included with this story to determine payment arrival dates:

“The Internal Revenue Service has begun to transfer economic stimulus payments to millions of Americans, some of whom already are seeing payments in their bank accounts,” the Web site says.

The IRS will issue payments of up to $600 ($1,200 for married couples) plus $300 for eligible children younger than 17, throughout the spring and summer. The first wave of payments will go to people who opted for direct deposit on their 2007 income tax returns.

“People who chose direct deposit will receive their economic stimulus payments the quickest,” IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said in a prepared statement. “We know there are many people who are eligible for an economic stimulus payment who have not filed a tax return. If you think you may be eligible, even if you don’t normally file a tax return, please check it out. And, use direct deposit to get your payment faster.”

The Web site article offered up these facts about the payments:

• Whether a taxpayer opted for direct deposit determines how soon the payment will arrive. The first cycle of paper checks will be mailed starting May 9.

• Even people who normally do not have a filing requirement may be eligible for the stimulus payment. People who have no filing requirement must have at least $3,000 in qualifying income. Qualifying income includes any combination of earned income, nontaxable combat pay they elect to include in earned income and certain payments from Social Security, Veterans Affairs and Railroad Retirement.

• People with at least $3,000 in qualifying income may qualify for an economic stimulus payment of $300 ($600 for married couples) plus the $300 per qualifying child payment. However, they must file a 2007 income tax return by Oct. 15 , 2008, to receive a stimulus payment. They can use the simple Form 1040A and provide basic information. Form 1040A is available on IRS.gov, the official IRS Web site.

• The payment schedule announced earlier this year is for people who filed early enough to have their tax returns processed by April 15. People who did not submit a return in time for it to be processed by April 15 may see their stimulus payments later than the scheduled dates.

• Some taxpayers may receive smaller economic stimulus payments than they anticipated. By law, the stimulus payments are offset to satisfy past-due taxes, student loans, child support and certain other debts.

• The IRS will send notices to taxpayers who have already filed a 2007 tax return and who are eligible for an economic stimulus payment. This notice will serve as an important record-keeping document and should be retained by taxpayers. By keeping people informed, the IRS hopes to reduce calls to customer service representatives who are still busy helping taxpayers complete tax returns.

Others fawning over their food court lunch treats had a more favorable view of the stimulus checks.

Monique Sherman and Faye Daniels, both of Valdosta, were enjoying Chinese food with a friend when asked about the checks.

Sherman is single but engaged. She filed her income taxes and claimed one child as a dependent. She said she anticipates getting $900 from the program on Oct. 2.

“I like it because I need the extra money,” Sherman said. “But I’m not going to spend it. I am going to put it in the bank and save it.”

Daniels said she was just married April 19, and had filed her 2007 income taxes as the head of household with two dependents. She, too, anticipates getting a check for $900.

“I like the deal but they should have given us more money, with all that money of ours the government gets,” Daniels said. “I’m grateful for what they did but they need to do more.”

Daniels says she won’t be doing any major “fun” spending when the money comes. She’ll pay off some bills and put some in the bank.

Kelly Goodwin of Valdosta was pawing over some chow a few tables down. The married-with-children truck driver said he should get $1,800 on “May 24 or May 26, I’m not sure which.”

“I did my (income) taxes direct deposit so I should get it direct deposited,” Goodwin said. “We’re going to take a little weekend trip and pay some bills.”

Goodwin said the program is “a great idea” but said the government needs to do it every year. More importantly, if the government really wants to improve the economy, “they need to do something about this gas problem,” he said.

“I looked at California prices today and it’s up to $4.02 a gallon, and that is just outrageous,” Goodwin said. “The price of fuel is driving up everything, cost wise.”

VSU Senior Brian Edwards, who works part-time at the mall, was looking over a new automobile parked just off the food court. But he said he had no plans to use the stimulus check for a down payment… on a car… or anything.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” Edwards said. “I think I’m getting $600, but I have no idea when. I’d like to buy an LCD TV, but I’m probably going to put the money in savings. If I were going to buy an LCD TV, I’d spend $1,100. That means with just $600 from the program, I’d have spend $500 out of pocket to get the TV, and I can’t afford to do that. It’s like when you get a gift card for say, $25, for Christmas, and you usually use it to buy a $50 item as sort of a way to discount the purchase of something you want. But $500 out of pocket for a TV right now in these times doesn’t make sense. So the program really doesn’t work for me.”

It doesn’t work for Valdosta music equipment, instrument and repair shop owner Ben Owens either, who was polled about the program while traffic backed up at the railroad track just outside his door on Baytree Road across the street from Remerton.

“I was told by my accountant that I’ll get $300 for me and $300 for my child, but I have no idea when I’ll get it,” Owens said. “I’m the president of a private, incorporated company, my own store, so my accountant said for some reason I can’t get as much. It’s just like the government to scam you anyway they can.”

Then Owens joined Bell’s tone for some more feisty remarks.

“What I don’t understand is why our own government has to borrow all this money from the Chinese to give to us, knowing that we’re just going to turn around and purchase mostly Chinese made goods,” Owens said. “I smell a rat.”

Asked what he’d do with the money once it arrives, Owens offered: “I am buying an American-made lawn mower.”

Nosing around Owens’ music store for a guitar was Johnny McMullen of Pavo. McMullen said he didn’t know when he would get his check, but said he anticipates a figure of $2,100. That’s because he is married and has three children.

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” he said. “I plan on putting it in the bank. We won’t be spending it.”

Back at the mall food court, the disgusted Bell summed up his frustration this way, blaming the economic downturn on rising oil prices that national leaders refuse to do anything about:

“Why don’t our leaders take the bully pulpit the way John Kennedy did when U.S. Steel said they were going to raise steel prices? Kennedy warned them that if they did, he’d make sure no one bought the steel, and they backed down and didn’t raise the prices,” Bell said. “They could do this with the oil situation right now. That president’s office carries a lot of clout in name alone. Just his word alone affects entire countries. But they seem inept at handling OPEC.

“When Ronald Reagan told the Russians to ‘take down that wall,’ they took it down,” Bell continued. “When John Kennedy said ‘We will go to the moon,’ we did. But George W. Bush just doesn’t have the guts to do it.”

And that’s the way it was when those two little words “economic stimulus” were merely muttered in the presence of Valdostans this past week.