Last night, the Tyrone Area School Board voted down a motion to change the district’s tax collector’s compensation from $2.50 to $1.50 per parcel.
The vote was six to three against making the change, but the issue is far from being resolved.
After the vote, the board agreed to hold a special meeting on Monday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. to further discuss and possibly take another vote. If the board takes no action by a Feb. 15 deadline, the $2.50 rate will remain in effect for another four years.
The school board’s work session and regular meeting agenda originally called for a reduction to 41 cents per parcel, but after discussions prior to the meeting, the motion was presented with the $1.50 rate.
According to Superintendent Dr. William N. Miller, the defeat of the motion showed a “variance of opinion” on the issue. He also indicated school board members voted no for different reasons.
Prior to the special meeting, administrators plan to meet with officials from the various municipalities which make up the district.
Business Administrator Cathy Peachey explained, the originally proposed reduction to 41 cents per parcel was based on an “analysis of what it was projected it would cost the district to collect the tax.”
Peachey added, “We did an analysis and what we felt would be appropriate for collection of the real estate tax.”
Board president Lee Stover, who voted “no”, said, “We have new technology, and we are using the technology effectively, and we are able to lower some of those costs significantly. That to me is an intelligent use of your investment of the people’s money in technology to make a better operating system. If 41 cents will do it, let’s support that. But, there evidently are others out there who are served by the taxes who disagree with that. They are welcome to disagree, but I’m supporting our effort.”
Stover said the change could mean a savings of about 14,000 to 15,000 dollars a year.
James Crawford voted “yes” on the $1.50 per parcel motion and said he did so because it was discussed prior to the meeting and he thought there “was a consensus” and he should support it.
Peachey confirmed the board had held an executive session prior to last night’s meeting to discuss possible litigation but would not go into further detail since the issues discussed where done so in executive session.
In a “Letter to the Editor” printed in the Feb. 5 edition of The Daily Herald, the Warriors Mark tax collector Annette Fry said, “This is an attempt to do away with the job of tax collector.”
In the letter, Fry went on to say, “The school has given the tax collectors this choice: we can either collect the taxes for $.41/parcel or we can deputize the school to collect the taxes for us.”
Fry said deputizing the district would not relieve her of her responsibilities as the elected tax collector. She said she could still be held liable in the event of a lawsuit caused by negligence or mishandling of funds. She noted bonding might relieve her of financial obligation but her reputation could still be affected.
In her letter, Fry said the decision would affect taxpayers, “if the current tax collectors refuse to run for re-election, and no one wants to work under these conditions, your township and county may be forced to raise taxes to pay a wage worthy of the work involved.”
Fry was in attendance at last night’s meeting along with Betty Layton, a Franklin Township tax collector. Layton presented a letter to the school board from the Franklin Township supervisors. Layton said the letter indicated the supervisors did not support the reduction in compensation. The tax collectors indicated they were not aware the district had revised the proposed figure from 41 cents to $1.50 per parcel until they heard about it at the meeting.
Fry said she was “surprised and pleased” by the board’s vote. Both women said they plan to attend next week’s special meeting.
