“If called to testify, every title professional would have at least one anecdote about the impossibility of obtaining tax information from a tax collector.”
This was but one statement made by PLTA in its April 21, 2010 letter of support for Senate Resolution 250, concerning current tax collection systems throughout the Commonwealth. Specifically, Senate Resolution 250 “Directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a comprehensive study of the current real property tax collection systems in this Commonwealth to determine the impact of the consolidation of this real property tax collection systems, including the costs and benefits associated with consolidation, and to compare them to real property tax collection systems of other states, particularly those states with demographics similar to this Commonwealth.”
On Monday, May 3, the PA Senate Finance Committee reported Senate Resolution 250 to the Senate Legislative Budget and Finance Committee. This was a very important first step in the reformation of the tax collection process in Pennsylvania.
PLTA’s letter of support for Senate Resolution No. 250 goes on to say that it believes “that reform of the real estate tax collection system will logically result in reform of the real estate tax reporting system. The current reporting system is fragmented and antiquated… The current reporting system relies primarily on elected or appointed and often part-time tax collectors. Tax collector availability is often limited to odd hours of the week. Some will not provide information by telephone… In addition, it almost goes without saying that few if any tax collectors use modern electronic technology to maintain and transmit information. Compared to the electronic methods used today to process all real estate transactions, tax collectors are, by and large, stuck in the 19th century.”
PLTA is proud to be on the front line in this effort to bring Pennsylvania tax collection and reporting systems into the 21st century. Details about the study have not yet been announced but we will report to you as soon as those details are released.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
One wonders, what opinion you may hear if you surveyed the Taxpayers of Pennsylvania instead of a group of strictly profit minded title insurance agents and lawyers. These groups would like to see the Tax Collectors focus to be as a service to their industry when in fact we were elected to serve the Taxpayers of our Communities. We say to you and the Legislators “Shouldn’t this be a decision of the Voters of Pennsylvania”? Instead you would like it to be a decision due to lobbying by a special interest group.
Lynn Ewing
Tax Collector
Derry Borough, Pennsylvania
I am the tax collector for Derry Township in Westmoreland county. My office hours are Monday thru Friday 8am-4pm. I answer the phone, unless I am at the counter waiting on a walk in taxpayer. My office and the offices of many tax collectors are updated and computerized. I am there to be of service to the people. Most tax collectors do more than just collect taxes. Among my other duties, I collect per capita, fire hydrant/street light fees, supplementals, surcharges, issue mobile home removal permits, send reminder notices, provide tax certifications, prepare and mail out tax bills. During discount periods, I have at least 100 taxpayers a day wanting to pay taxes in person. I also provide mortgage companies with tax statements for people with escrows. I work with many different companies to provide them with information such as parcels numbers and the amount of taxes and dates taxes were paid.
I feel it would not benefit the taxpayer to consolidate to a tax collection agency. These agencies would charge extra fees for personal services current tax collectors provide free. It is not right or fair to pass more financial burdens onto the taxpayers, not to mention putting more people on the unemployment line.
If you would ask the general public they would agree.
Thank you
Karen J Krinock
Derry Township Real Estate Tax Collector