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Residents raise concerns as Dunmore moves tax collection to Berkheimer; borough cites about $2.50 per bill fee
Summary
A retired borough employee questioned the decision to outsource tax collection to Berkheimer, citing service and security concerns; Borough Manager Greg Wolff said the cost is roughly $2.50 per tax bill (about $9,000 annually) and that no cash will be accepted at the office.
Sally Judge, a recently retired borough employee, voiced concerns at the Feb. 9 Dunmore Borough Council meeting about the decision to outsource tax collection to Berkheimer and the impact on residents and office staffing.
Judge said she opposed removing in‑person options that historically provided stamped receipts and worried that a two‑person office will be unable to handle the increased volume of calls and in‑office visits. She asked how much Berkheimer will charge the borough and how payments collected at a drop box would be transported and secured.
Borough Manager Greg Wolff responded that the added payment options bring the cost to roughly $2.50 per tax bill and estimated the annual cost at about $9,000. He said the borough will not accept cash for payments. Council members and residents expressed concerns about reduced staffing in the tax office and the potential inconvenience to residents used to in‑person service.
Council did not vote on the matter at the meeting; Judge and other speakers urged staff to provide more information on the transition plan, safeguards for payment handling and how residents will receive receipts or confirmation.
