×

County office tallies $36.6 million in 2018 collections

The Lycoming County Central Collections Office was able to bring in about $36.6 million in taxes, delinquent taxes and criminal costs and fines in 2018, said Thomas D. Heap, assessment and tax claim director.

Heap provided data on the office’s receipts for 2018 to the commissioners Thursday in acknowledgment of his staff, which has been reduced by 2.5 positions the past four years.

“It’s ironic that we’re here on one of the coldest days in memory, because we’re considered to be a cold-hearted office,” Heap said. “There’s not one single individual who comes through that door, who comes up to those windows, who wants to be there.”

Despite the hardships of dealing with potentially unhappy customers, the staff of six, including Heap, handles millions of dollars efficiently, he said.

The staff also collects for the 27 municipalities in the county that don’t have an elected tax collector, he added.

In 2018, the office handled 73,000 tax receipts. Of those, 30,000 were costs and fines payments, which translates to about $2.8 million, Heap said.

“Although it was only $2.8 million, a majority of those were also walk-in payments,” he said. “It’s individuals who don’t want to pay, who feel they’ve been beat up by the criminal justice system.”

About 13,500 receipts, totaling about $9.7 million, in delinquent taxes were collected and disbursed.

About 29,500 receipts were collected for 2018 taxes, resulting in $24.1 million going through the collections office, he said.

“We kind of fly under the radar — we like it that way,” Heap said. “It’s difficult for us to be recognized, but I thought it was just.”

The commissioners agreed the recognition was deserved, and awarded each staff member a “free” day off to be used at their discretion.

“If you weren’t doing your jobs, our jobs would be monstrous,” said Commissioner Jack McKernan.

“You have always been there for us, thinking of new ways and crosstraining …” said Commissioner Tony Mussare. “There is a direct savings to the taxpayers over the longrun, and it’s not $1,000. It’s tens of thousands, or hundreds of thousands, of dollars.”

“We couldn’t run this county without the $36.6 million you bring in,” added Commissioner Rick Mirabito. “You said you ‘only’ brought in $2.8 million in costs and fines — that’s huge.”

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today