Looking Forward
My vision in 2013 is to continue to restore confidence in Luzerne County government, by working towards a bipartisan council with the highest integrity and dedication to enable effective policy and accountable leadership to work towards a brighter Luzerne County.
Know where I stand on the issues, and if you choose to support me I welcome any resources or help you can give my campaign to continue to represent you.
Our 2013 Campaign Kick off Petition Party at Rodanos. Supporters around the County gathered to join in on the launch and lend a hand.
In House Tax Collection
Initially I wanted to retain the current system because many elderly people do still pay in cash and appreciate the face-to-face relationships. I'm also a small-government guy who believes like Jefferson that "the best government is that which governs least," so local control of tax collection rather than the central consolidation also resonated with me. Nonetheless, my opinion changed as I examined all perspectives.
1) County collection of taxes will shrink government. Instead of 69 part time, commission-based collectors, we will have 2-3 full time employees who will be cross trained and be able to complete other tasks during off peak tax collecting months. Accordingly, pay will be reduced from $440,000 to $287,000 annually and realize a savings of $153,000 for taxpayers.
2) County collection of taxes will give more payment options to the taxpayer.
Citizens will be able to pay taxes: online with a credit or debit card, via lockbox at a local bank, through mail by check or money order, in person at the courthouse, or at local senior centers around the county staffed by a county employee from the treasurer's office. The centers are already paid for by state Area Agency on Aging funds; the county worker will run a circuit every week and be available at least once day a week during peak tax times.
3) County collection of taxes will increase efficiency over the current system. I visited with tax collectors and the treasurer's office first hand. I saw the same process of scanning the tax bill, creating a batch on the RBS system, logging the tax, stamping the payment, bundling the payments, and storing all in a secure location. The difference: taxes will be deposited daily into county coffers rather than have them trickle in weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. This will not only increase our rate of interest, but it will help expedite cash flow.
4) County collection of taxes is strongly encouraged by many of our municipalities, school districts, other PA Home Rule counties, the PA Economy League, the PA Legislature, our 2011 Tax Collection Audit, and our county manager. The lack of adequate "cash flow", or money on hand to do business, causes problems for our local school districts and boroughs and townships. Under the current system, many have to wait extra weeks for the collections in order to pay for expenses. The leaders I spoke with overwhelmingly encouraged the county to take advantage of collecting in-house. This way, the cash is there immediately after it's paid rather than wait for the state-mandated monthly deposit from collectors. Also, the close of 2012 nearly required the county to take out a promissory note in order to cover payroll, but a steady flow of tax revenue would have greatly decreased the need to take on more loans and thus saved taxpayer money. I did exhaustive reading of studies and past audits regarding this issue, all of which concluded in-house collection is the best choice. Most poignantly, other Home Rule counties cited in-house collection as being one of the best decisions they've made.
5) County collection of taxes is the right choice to make now. There is physical room in the treasurer's office; the software is in place; there are terminals sitting waiting to be used; the mode of service will be different, but service will continue.
I leave you with a brief story: My grandmother was upset when home milk delivery stopped in the early 1980's. She loved the service, and found it difficult to accept. She was the type who paid her phone bill at the Commonwealth building using dollars and coins. But by her early eighties she was sending checks in the mail and picking her milk up at the ACME. The dairies had to meet the bottom line; the phone company had to meet the bottom line; Luzerne County has to meet the bottom line. The elderly folks who I spoke with want us to save as much money as possible and said they could make the adjustment. I will continue the vision of our council to pay down our massive debt by considering whatever options our manager proposes regardless of their popularity.
Sincerely,
Harry
