Schuylkill treasurer holds training for tax collectors
When Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development enacted Act 48 in 2015 — requiring all tax collectors to get two hours of continuing education during their four-year term in office, and also changing background clearance requirements — tax collectors had questions. How often must they get those two hours? What topics qualified?
After hearing about those questions, Schuylkill County Treasurer Linda Marchalk set up a meeting, inviting officials from DCED. Nearly all the county’s tax collectors attended. On Sept. 10, Marchalk held another continuing education meeting, attended by 61 out of 65 of the county’s tax collectors. The event was held at Roman’s Lounge & Catering, in Frackville.
Marchalk and Schuylkill County Controller Christy Joy spoke, providing information on finance and accounting for tax collectors.
“All tax collectors must take two hours of continuing education during their four-year terms,” Marchalk said. “If this wasn’t offered locally, people would have to travel somewhere, so this is very beneficial.”
The event was free due to sponsorship from Anthracite Abstract Company, Berkshire Hathaway Homesale Services, Epaymentnow.com, M&T Bank, Northeast Edge Associates, Penn National Abstract, Rose Beck/Remax of Reading, Schuylkill Abstract, Charlotte Solt Real Estate, Wendy Knorr Realty World and the Schuylkill County Commissioners.
The topics for continuing education to be covered included procedures for collecting taxes, auditing, accounting and ethics. The Pennsylvania State Tax Collectors’ Association and any other organization or individual may offer continuing education courses that are reviewed and approved by the DCED. Renewal of qualification shall be completed prior to the tax collector’s final year in office. If the tax collector fails to complete the continuing education requirements, the tax collector shall be deemed ineligible to be placed on the ballot at the end of the tax collector’s current term of office.
