Frazier board votes to reduce tax collectors’ pay
In 2018, tax collectors for the Frazier School District won’t be paid as much as they are now.
This comes after the school board voted by a 5-2 margin to reduce the pay of its tax collectors based on the results of a district-conducted time study which revealed that their compensation was not in line with the amount of time spent on tax-related duties.
The study revealed that a rate of $1.74 per tax bill was sufficient for the workload, which would constitute $8,500 per year. Currently, the school district pays $105,000.
On Nov. 10, tax collectors were invited to a public meeting to present information to the board, but board president Tom Shetterly said the tax collectors weren’t prepared to discuss the compensation issue at the meeting, so the board asked them to return at Monday’s meeting.
During the board’s work session, tax collectors Scott Brundege of Newell Borough and Gina Dreucci of Perryopolis Borough made a presentation to school directors on the compensation plan.
Brundege, who is a certified public accountant, questioned the validity and method used to calculate the rate on the district-conducted plan. He asked if anyone from the district met with any tax collectors to determine the amount of time needed to complete various job duties.
“This is not a discussion, not a debate, not a discussion,” said Shetterly. “You need to tell us what you feel is fair compensation.”
Brundege went on to tell school directors that the study didn’t take into consideration the amount of time required to deal with problems that arise, such as lost tax bills, coordination with mortgage companies, travel to the post office or to the bank to make deposits. The time allowed for those functions was seriously underestimated, according to Brundege.
Dreucci also provided school directors with a list of 65 daily duties not included in the district study, along with a proposal to cut tax collectors compensation by 25 percent giving the school district $24,897.25 in savings.
Dreucci went on to say during public comment at the regular meeting that tax collectors just want a fair wage, but that the $1.74 per tax bill — a 90 percent decrease in compensation — was far from that. Shetterly felt the board’s proposal of $2.77 per bill was fair. The tax collector’s counter-proposal would have resulted in a rate of $15.30 per tax bill.
Ultimately, the school board approved a resolution setting the tax collectors’ compensation rate at $4 per bill and $1.14 per installment payment.
School board member Dave Simmons, along with Kevin Brown, voted against the resolution.
“I feel that we need to compensate them more,” said Simmons after the meeting. “They spend time with taxpayers. There’s a lot of time involved. It should be fair. I would’ve liked us to meet them a little closer to in the middle.”
The new pay rate will begin in 2018. Tax collectors are elected to four-year terms. Any change in compensation must be approved by February prior to the election year.
In other business, the school board:
n Agreed to send a letter to the VFW that the school district will not be cutting the oak tree down located at the War Memorial, but will do its part to ensure that the tree is well cared for and that the area is kept clean.
n Approved field trips for Amy Roadman and Beth Tantlinger on Jan. 11 to Southern Allegheny Museum of Art, The Main Exhibit in Ligonier at a cost of $182 to the district, for 5th grade classes to PNC Park on May 18 at no cost to the district, Cindy Marr, Relay for Life committee sponsor for planning event at Charleroi High School (retroactive), at a cost of $291 to the district, and for Kris Levi, FBLA sponsor, to Penn Tech Commercial School in Washington on Dec. 9 at a cost of $182 to the district.
n Approved request by Victoria Manack for Charlie Manack to use the football stadium on Thanksgiving Day to use the football stadium for annual Turkey Bowl.
n Approved request by Superintendent William Henderson to hold Camp Invention during the summer of 2017 for Frazier students (first through eighth grades) at no cost to the district.
n Awarded bid of $8,500 to H. Johnson Masonry to install a single steel door in the middle school gymnasium.
n Approved list of substitute employees for November, election of Jason Erdely, volunteer for wrestling, Many Hartman, head coach for middle school volleyball, and Don Hartman, assistant coach for middle school volleyball — all for 2016-17 school year, request by an elementary teacher for childbearing leave from Nov. 30 through Feb. 6 (bearing no unforeseen circumstances) and request by Kelly Muic, elementary principal, to place Ronda Elliott in a long-term substitute position on Nov. 30 with salary of $100 per day with no benefits.
The board will meet Dec. 5 for its reorganization meeting.