May 3, 2013 4 min read

The Fayette County Tax Collectors’ Association would like to respond to the recent Herald-Standard article entitled “Tax collectors reject accounting system” by reporter, Patty Yauger.

The article states that an accounting system was offered at no charge to the elected tax collector following a course that the controller requested for all collectors to attend. It was offered following a tax collector’s alleged misappropriation of funds from the City of Fayette and the Belle Vernon School District.

First of all, our association would like to thank the office staff of the controller for conducting the audit which found the alleged embezzlement. It is very unfortunate when something like this occurs, however one thing is for sure, comprehensive auditing does work.

It is our hope that the missing funds be recouped as soon as possible for the city and school district if theft did occur and that justice take its course.

Next, we would like to address the issue concerning the software Mr. Lally is referring to. It is the RBA online internet software which the news article states would be provided at no charge to the collector. For several years, many of our tax collectors have been searching for an accounting software system that would 1) be affordable and user friendly, 2) able to adapt to changes quickly, 3) provide accurate record keeping, 4) no charge to the taxpayer.

We finally found a tax accounting software that fits all of our needs. It is the tax accounting software by RAK Computer. This system is affordable and provides the tax collector with software to help assist with the efficiency of the office not to mention the excellent free customer service.

The RAK tax accounting software currently serves 23 counties and 175 district collectors throughout the Commonwealth. In fact, at one time, even one of our county offices wanted to learn more about this user-friendly, affordable software.

The cost to our collectors is only $300 per year for all tax records plus an additional fee for the data that is charged to the collector by the county. We have never really understood why our county would charge us a fee for this data when it is beneficial for the collection of taxes and is provided at no cost to the tax collectors in neighboring Westmoreland County.

According to an RBA representative, their system would cost .11 per record plus a maintenance fee after the first year which would ultimately be passed on to the taxpayer. So for example, in Dunbar Township the county/twp real estate data would cost approximately $469.16, the per capita, $238.92 and the school district another $469.16, not to mention the cost of the internet service, approx. $400/yr and the maintenance fee, approx. $300/yr., for a total of 1,877.24.

And, in retrospect, the RBA system is an online program only, which means your information would be sent via the internet where the possibility exists that your name, address, tax amount due , date paid and past due payment information could be retrieved by others who may sell or use your information without your consent or knowledge.

Our tax collectors who have chosen the RAK tax accounting system feel that this software is definitely cost efficient and provides accurate record keeping. We feel that Mr. Lally’s RBA software request has absolutely nothing to do with the alleged theft of monies but rather is a first step in creating a one system government.

The Pennsylvania State Legislature completed an extensive review of tax collection throughout the state and found that collection of taxes via the elected tax collector is both less expensive and is efficient . Bigger is not always better. Your elected tax collector provides a one-on-one personal service that cannot be duplicated by an online internet connection, a computer voice system, or by a single mega size agency.

And the bookeeping of the receipt of taxes, escrow accounts, etc., either by ledger or by our RAK cost efficient accounting tax software means your sensitive tax records are kept safe from internet piracy. Our members are always looking out for your best interest and we are always thinking of ways to improve our service while saving you, the taxpayer money.

In conclusion, we understand that this is the political season and there are those who wish to score points in order to secure their own political future, however the collection of taxes is a matter to be taken seriously and the taxpayers are not to be used in order to get to first base.

This letter was written by Marigrace Butela, president of the Fayette County Tax Collectors Associaton; Kathy Packroni, vice President; and Louis Bell, secretary/treasurer.