Staff proposes modest increase to tax collector compensation; board told plan must be set by Feb. 6

District staff told the Littlestown Area SD board that state law requires the district to set a tax-collector compensation plan by Feb. 6 and that a proposed modest increase would not take effect until after the next election and the following January.

A staff presenter said the current compensation structure has been unchanged since 2018 and described the proposal as a four-year rate adjustment intended to make the role more attractive to candidates. The presenter described the current resolution’s rates and outlined a proposed increase that staff said would raise the district’s costs by approximately $4,000 in the next budget cycle. The presenter called the proposal a draft and said staff have solicited comments and received none in opposition so far.

Board members asked how the district handles the position if a township cannot find an elected tax collector; staff described common interim practices, including appointing a county or contracting for collection services, and noted the district would need internal controls if collections were performed in‑house. Staff said some neighboring districts have made similar adjustments to keep the position viable and that the timeline for any new rates would be set to align with the statutory deadlines.

No motion or final vote occurred. Staff said the proposal would be brought back with any additional feedback and that the Feb. 6 deadline requires the board to act before the statutory deadline if it chooses to adopt a new schedule.