TREVORTON - Line Mountain School District may have to write off approximately $567,000 in delinquent occupation and per capita taxes.
Statewide Tax Recovery is contracted by the district to collect delinquencies for both taxes. In a letter to district administration, the firm will no longer seek to recoup back taxes further than five years.
Philip Rapant, district business administrator, told the board during Tuesday's meeting at the Trevorton Elementary cafeteria that the bulk of the unpaid taxes referenced in the firm's letter span between 1987 and 2005. Another $17,900 dates further back, he said.
About 80 percent of district residents pay their per capita taxes on time; 75 percent for occupation tax.
When the delinquencies are turned over annually, Statewide Tax Recovery is able to recover about 50 percent within five years, Rapant said.
Rapant asked directors if the district should consider seeking an alternative firm willing to pursue back taxes beyond five years.
If a better option exists, board President Troy Laudenslager told Rapant to pursue it. Outside of that, the district has no other option, he said.
Director Lawrence Neidig, the board treasurer, said the delinquent recovery rate is quite successful given the difficulties in collecting occupation and per capita taxes.
He said people moving into and out of the district can often fly under the radar on such taxes, specifically the occupation tax.
"That's the problem with the occupation tax. It's a declining issue and is awfully hard to collect," he said.
The alternative, Neidig said, would be to eliminate the occupation tax altogether and make up the difference through the earned income tax. However, that would need voter approval.
Such a move was voted down the past two years in Mount Carmel Area School District. Officials there believed the public was under the mistaken impression that it would have constituted a tax increase when it is, in actuality, a tax shift.
Delinquent property taxes are collected by Northumberland County Tax Claims Bureau.
Board vacancy
Five applications were received by district residents interested in filling a vacancy on the school board: Roger Babnew, Frank Hanlon, Laurie Johnson, Melodee Lesher and Ron Neidig.
Johnson and Neidig were each in attendance at Tuesday's meeting.
All five will be interviewed at the start of the next board meeting at 6:30 p.m. March 27 at the Trevorton Elementary cafeteria. The interviews are open to the public.
The vacancy was created last month with the resignation of Bryan Buddock, who served as director of Region 1.
Whomever school directors choose to fill out the nine-member board will serve out the remaining two years of Buddock's vacated term.
Facility proposal
Jeffrey Lagerman, athletic director, asked directors to consider cutting down a strand of jack pine trees behind the high school football stadium.
He said by cutting down a majority of the trees, it would open up the facility for easier access for a rear parking lot and allow for an additional stadium entryway to be installed.
A walkway and additional lighting would be needed, he said; however, by cutting away the trees, it would allow more natural light in the area.
Laudenslager said that years ago the trees looked great. Now, he said, many are diseased.
The board will consider the request.
In other business, the board:
- Purchased computer hardware for Internet content filtering and network management through Micro Technology Group Inc., Bristol, at a cost of $4,299;
- Allowed the following to serve on the school wellness/advisory committee: Laudenslager, Superintendent David Campbell, Sarah Biegert, Britton Heim, Tammy Heim, Jill Yisrael, Cinda Grimm, Jennifer Heitzman and Joanna Hovenstine;
- Heard from Campbell, who said an entry fee will be charged at all district sporting events next year;
- Adopted the first reading of policies on student wellness and commercial sponsorship;
- Approved the 2012-13 operating budget of $1,283,134 for Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (CSIU), of which the district's share is $18,428, along with an additionally estimated $364,309 for CSIU programs;
- Heard from Lawrence Neidig, who said seven CSIU administrators have volunteered to a pay freeze for next school year;
- Adopted the 2012-13 school calendar;
- Will review a request by Spyglass, an auditing contracting firm, to review district telecommunication bills in a cost-recovery effort;
- Approved Anessa Renn as a elementary substitute teacher for the remainder of the school year at a salary of $80 per day worked; Kourtney Heintzelman as scorekeeper for junior varsity softball at a cost of $7 per game; and Cindy Fessler, varsity baseball, $40 per game, junior varsity baseball, $35, and junior high field hockey, $30;
- Was told by Lagerman that participation in spring sports is high - 38 students for baseball, 31 for softball, 28 for middle school field hockey, 20 for track and field;
- Permitted three facility requests - football boosters, junior-senior high school cafeteria, basket bingo, noon to 5 p.m. April 29; First Baptist Church of Trevorton, Trevorton Elementary gymnasium, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. April 15, for rental fee of $50; and retroactively, wrestling boosters, junior-senior high school cafeteria, postseason wrestling celebration, noon to 4 p.m. March 11.
Campbell presented Keystone cutouts to elementary Principal Jeanne Menko and secondary Principal Jeffrey Roadcap. The cutouts salute each of the district's four schools for achieving Adequate Yearly Progress on state assessment exams.
This year's assessment exams begin Tuesday.
Kindergarten registration will be held by appointment only on April 11 at Trevorton Elementary and April 12 at Dalmatia Elementary. Call Trevorton Elementary at 797-3825 or Dalmatia Elementary at 758-6243 for more information.
An executive session was held after Tuesday's meeting for purposes of personnel and potential litigation. No board action was expected to be taken at the session's conclusion.