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Board hears unresolved delinquent tax‑collector records; county holds jurisdiction
Summary
Board staff reported Menow Township records showed funds not remitted and efforts to contact the former Burnham Borough tax collector failed; counsel and staff said delinquent taxes fall under county jurisdiction and the district has limited remedies.
Board members and the business office told the public on June 18 that efforts to reconcile delinquent per‑capita tax records in Menow Township and Burnham Borough remain unresolved.
The business office reported that when two tax collectors left office it uncovered items turned over as delinquent that, on review, appeared to have been collected but not remitted. Staff said they engaged agreed‑upon procedures initially and resolved part of Menow's account, but "there's still money left in that account" and additional work is required.
Staff also described repeated, unsuccessful attempts to contact the former Burnham Borough tax collector, who canceled a planned meeting with county and district officials on the morning it was to occur. The business office said delinquent per‑capita taxes for 2021 through 2024 were not turned over to the delinquent collector, and that the county tax office has statutory jurisdiction once taxes become delinquent. A board adviser explained the county is unlikely to pursue litigation to compel records and that the district cannot unilaterally take over collection or compel bank records without county cooperation.
Board members discussed limited remedies, including withholding final payments to the former collector and the fact that maximum statutory fines discussed in the meeting were small (the transcript record noted a $250 maximum fine). Several board members expressed frustration that staffing and competing county priorities have slowed progress and said the district will continue efforts to resolve outstanding records but has limited authority.
The public transcript records the district's description of steps taken and barriers; it does not show a formal motion to escalate litigation or a successful recovery of funds.
Ending: The district reported partial progress on Menow Township reconciliations and ongoing lack of contact with Burnham Borough's former collector; no definitive recovery or legal action was recorded in the public session.
