The Keystone Central School District held a work session on September 4, 2025, where board members discussed the future of tax collection within the district. A significant topic was the potential closure of the district's tax office, which has been a point of contention among board members.

During the meeting, several members expressed concerns about the implications of closing the tax office. One member suggested that hiring a local individual with tax office experience could streamline the collection of local service taxes and business privilege taxes. However, others argued that the district should not be involved in tax collection, emphasizing that their primary focus should be on education rather than tax administration.

The discussion highlighted the financial aspects of maintaining the tax office. Board members noted that the current arrangement with First National Bank for real estate tax collection incurs no costs for the district. In contrast, outsourcing tax collection to a third party, such as Berkheimer, would involve fees. Some members questioned the rationale behind continuing to operate a tax office when it could be more cost-effective to hire external professionals for tax collection duties.

The board also addressed the retention of Noelle, a current employee with expertise in tax matters. While some members advocated for keeping her in a role related to tax collection, others pointed out that the district should not retain employees solely for the sake of employment if their roles are not aligned with the district's educational mission.

In conclusion, the meeting underscored the ongoing debate about the role of the school district in tax collection and the need to balance financial responsibilities with educational priorities. The board is expected to continue evaluating these issues as they move forward with their decision-making process.