I stumbled onto an editorial in The Patriot-News this week titled "Tax bureau shouldn't need to compensate board members." It detailed the fact that members of the Capital Tax Bureau board received $50 for attending the organization's annual dinner, and receive smaller stipends for attending regular board meetings:
"Keep in mind that these board members, who are appointed by the 63 municipalities and 11 school districts served by the bureau in a five-county area, have oversight of the staff and operations involved in collecting $117 million a year in earned income taxes.
It begs the question of just how objective and thorough board members will treat that responsibility when they're being provided freebies and getting paid, to boot. We note that when Justin McShane, newly appointed Central Dauphin School Board representative, stood up at the annual meeting and said that money for door prizes should go to taxpayers, he was shouted down with derisive laughter, expletives and cries of "sit down" and "get a life."
As for financial remuneration, why is this a bureau responsibility? As noted by Swatara Twp. Administrator Paul Cornell, who gives his check to the township: "I don't work for CapTax. I work for the board of commissioners and, through them, the residents of the township..."
I figured if the editorial (Link) caught my eye, it may have also raised some questions in the minds of Lower Allen taxpayers regarding just exactly what largess, if any , I receive as one of they're elected officials. In short, you have a right to know.
For starters, I receive a quarterly compensation check totaling just over $900 as mandated by section 703 of Pennsylvania's First Class Township Code:
Each township commissioner may receive salary, established by ordinance, of not more than...four thousand one hundred twenty-five dollars per year in townships having a population of fifteen thousand or more but less than twenty-five thousand... Such salaries shall be payable monthly or quarterly for the duties imposed by the provisions of this act....
Locally, our compensation ordinance is chapter 11, section 2, and reads in part:
Beginning on January 1, 1976, the compensation of Township Commissioners elected or appointed after the adoption of this section may be the maximum amount permitted as the General Assembly of the Commonwealth may, from time to time determine, except as restricted by the provisions of Section 703 of the First Class Township Code, as amended
This compensation is part of the annual township budget, and is a matter of public record.
When I took office in January, 2006, I had the opportunity to accept several tools of the office, including:
- A township computer and broadband vpn hardware to access email, etc.
- Township reimbursement of broadband internet service to access email, etc.
- Township reimbursement of cell phone service charges to remain in contact with staff
- Township reimbursement of travel expenses when attending training conferences
I declined the first three offers. If I truly want to serve my neighbors, as I said during the 2005 campaign, then I feel there is a price for providing that service aside from the hours spent preparing for and attending meetings.
In the interest of full disclosure, I did accept mileage reimbursement once in 2006, but not since then. I figure if the taxpayers are going to pay for me to attend training conferences, I can use some of the quarterly checks to get me back and forth to the meetings.
Finally, I receive no compensation from either the West Shore Tax Bureau or the Capital Region Council of Governments. I have attended, at taxpayer expense, three annual COG dinners, but have not been paid personally to attend.
Let me know if you have any other questions about the dollars. I'll be happy to respond.
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