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Fair Haven council approves ordinance to create deputy municipal tax collector, bringing tax collection in-house
Summary
Council approved an ordinance to create a deputy municipal tax collector and end a shared-service tax collector contract; staff said the change will reduce annual costs from roughly $25,000–$30,000 paid to an outside municipality to about $15,000 by using in-house staff.
The Fair Haven borough council voted to create a deputy municipal tax collector and move tax collection in-house during its Jan. 26, 2026 meeting.
Chris (borough staff) told the council the borough had been using a shared-service agreement with Middletown that paid a part-time outside tax collector "roughly just shy of $25,000 a year." He said Middletown had proposed a significant increase — likely above $30,000 — to continue the contract. Personnel and finance committee discussions led the borough to bring tax collection into the municipal office.
"We would pay Nancy Britton a $12,000 to be the tax collector, and Zaneta, who's our accounts payable clerk, $3,000 to be the deputy tax collector," Chris said, saying the net annual cost to the borough would be about $15,000 instead of the higher outside contract rate.
Council members asked procedural questions about why an ordinance was required; staff said the deputy position did not exist in the borough code and therefore had to be added by ordinance. After discussion, the council made and seconded a motion and approved the ordinance by roll call.
No effective date for the new position was specified in the meeting discussion; staff indicated the position would allow the borough to keep tax-collection work in-house and realize the stated savings.
The council also discussed related personnel and finance implications during the meeting and recorded the ordinance’s approval in the minutes.
