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Allegany County treasurer reports sales tax up about $1.2 million; treasurer-elect to take over Jan. 1
Summary
County Treasurer Terry Ross told the Allegany County Budget Committee that year-end sales tax collections were about 4.4% higher than a year ago—roughly $1.2 million—said one final payment will be reported in January, and introduced treasurer-elect Jenna, who will assume the office on Jan. 1.
County Treasurer Terry Ross told the Allegany County Budget Committee the county’s year-end sales tax collections were "4.4%, almost 4.5% higher than we were last year at this time" — an increase she estimated at "about $1,200,000." She said there will be one more payment that "will be reported in January."
Ross said the additional receipts mean the county is on track to meet its current budget projection and expressed confidence in the outlook for next year. "We will meet our budget projection," she said, adding that the county has been strategic in investing to protect bonding and to capture benefits from interest-rate conditions.
Ross announced that she is retiring and introduced the treasurer-elect, Jenna, who Ross said "is ready and able to take over on January 1." Colleagues offered thanks and recognition: Chair Jan Burdick said she had worked with Ross for nearly 40 years, recalled the early manual bookkeeping era and praised Ross’s leadership through many budgets. Several members echoed those remarks and said they were confident in Jenna as the successor.
Ross reviewed operational improvements the office has made during her tenure. She said the county pursued and received a grant that put "all 58 collectors on the same software," which she described as a significant efficiency gain for municipal tax collectors. Ross said jurisdictions still pay "under $300 a year for maintenance" on that system.
During questions, a committee member asked Ross to comment on the historical significance of current interest rates and whether they are in line with short-term averages. Ross said she had not prepared a formal analysis for this meeting but that the county "has benefited greatly from the interest rates currently" and cited past savings from refunding bonds as evidence of the office’s approach to managing debt and investments.
Procedure: the committee approved the meeting agenda and the minutes of Nov. 19 earlier in the session and then took Ross’s report. After concluding business the committee moved to adjourn.
