Parkland board sets tax‑collector pay at $3.20 per bill after debate

The Parkland School District Board on Tuesday approved a measure setting the compensation for each of its three elected tax collectors at $3.20 per tax bill collected.

Board members debated the change during the Policy & Finance committee report, with some arguing the role has become more efficient because of automation while others emphasized the collectors’ contribution to the district’s historically high tax‑return rate. Mrs. Roth, a board member who supported the $3.20 amendment, said the figure reflects a compromise across the three municipalities and noted more analysis is needed: “We just don't have enough information regarding the work actually being done by these collectors,” she said, urging a deeper review over the next four years.

Opponents argued the district should gather better workload data before approving an increase. One board member noted the original request from the collectors sought a much larger fixed-dollar increase and said the board’s role is to steward taxpayer resources carefully.

A roll‑call vote recorded six yeas and three nays; the amended proposal to set the rate at $3.20 per bill carried. The board recorded that the change will add a modest amount to the district’s personnel budget (the board discussion estimated the difference between $3.20 and $3.25 at roughly $1,100). Board President Chris Cohen closed the discussion by thanking members for the civil, data‑focused debate and noting administration will work with staff to collect better metrics going forward.

The board approved several other routine financial and personnel items earlier in the meeting, including procurement of replacement Chromebooks under the state cooperative contract and a $2,515 tax settlement payment from PennDOT related to an eminent‑domain request.