In a recent move, City Council has decided to unanimously consider approving term limits on local elected positions. While there is a certain amount of prestige in the Mayor’s Office and Council, one could argue that the minor positions of Controller and Treasurer do not have the same public attention nor do they come with the same power. Their duties consisting of day-to-day tasks required to keep taxpayer funds safe and collect taxes equally necessitate that there is a strong moral compass and a drive to operate efficiently. Where these positions sit in terms of their compensation, those skilled and honest workers needed to run these Offices effectively are and do search for higher rewarding fields.

One of the things that has been left unconsidered is the public desire to work these positions. Williamsport has repeatedly had to search for new Treasurers because qualified individuals have found other fields to use their skills. As the Treasurer serves as the City’s Tax Collector, the Office often receives the frustration of taxpayers first hand regarding the City’s high taxes. No one likes being told they owe taxes, but everyone appreciates when taxes are enforced equally. At the end of the day, no one is thanking the IRS for funding Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, or any of the other many services taxes support.

Despite the average pay and sometimes warranted public beratement, these positions come with two key benefits that entice longevity, strong healthcare coverage and a pension after years of service. Term limits will also drive away college educated talent since there will be no way to meet the 10-year qualification for the Department of Education’s Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. By enacting term limits, those benefits are tarred and feathered in the metaphorical sense.

In a nation built upon no taxation without representation, how do you feel when that representation is limited? As I often tell City taxpayers, they must make the decision that best fits their needs. In keeping with this advice myself, I have found a new path that will allow those needs to be met. I hope the taxpayers of the City can understand my decision to leave their service. To the people I have worked with as their Tax Collector, we deserve stability in our lives and our finances. I apologize that I cannot be the one to provide that to you from this Office, but I will set up everything I can within the next two weeks to set the next successor up for their own accomplishments.

Below is a list of what the Treasurer’s Office has worked on during the 3 years under my watch

• Revisited bank deposit accounts regularly to ensure optimal interest revenue resulting in revenue jumping from $12k in 2021 to $747k in 2024.

• Assisted in ensuring easy access to parking for our elderly taxpayers -Prevented close to $1 million of taxpayer funds from being paid out to delinquent taxpayers -Keeping in track with my predecessor Nick Grimes, brought in additional tax revenue through proper enforcement and administration of City’s Mercantile & Business Privilege Tax. Under our watch, this revenue increased 50% from $2.1 million in 2019 to over $3.2 million in 2023.

• Cited over 100 entities for non-compliance with local tax regulations.

• Reviewed local taxpayer’s homestead qualifications and helped them sign up resulting in thousands of dollars saved for City taxpayers. If you own and live in your home, please review your School Tax Bill to see if you have your homestead exemption. You can also check with any of your local school property tax collectors.

• Notified taxpayers of changes to PA Property Tax Rebate and advised them to seek their local state reps to sign up.

• Assisted many individual taxpayers with issues that deserved their attention or advised them on tax concerns.

• Established needed security measures within the Office. -Changed staff to 2 Full Time instead of 1 Full time and 1 Part Time. This change resulted in more efforts being allowed to be taken in other areas to find additional sources of revenue and develop additional policies needed by the Office.

• Implemented online filing for Mercantile & Business Privilege Tax resulting in more efficient processing of funds and filings.

• Advocated multiple times for changes in Local Services Tax. See Williamsport treasurer calls for state action as tax agencies work to battle budget increases

• Made visits to taxpayers unable to travel or meet time sensitive deadlines due to their health limitations. -Actively advocated for Business Programs to be implemented or funded by the City. To this end, this Office stepped in and sought to notify taxpayers of where business programs can be found and who to contact. To date, we are aware of no other tax office that provides this information.

• Attempted to coordinate efforts between economic agencies and organizations to collaborate for the benefit of Williamsport businesses.

• Wrote and modernized instructions to be handed down to successor in case of unexpected passing. For those who are unaware, Kevin Mackey is a Type 1 Diabetic and relies on insulin to account for sugar imbalances. This medication requires constant monitoring and regulation to ensure proper health. If a mistake made in calculations is drastic enough, then this could result in one’s passing. To this possibility, instructions were kept so that any successor could pick up the torch relatively quickly.

Kevin Mackey is city treasurer for Williamsport