SHAMOKIN - City officials are considering funding a door-to-door census in the hope of boosting the collection of delinquent taxes.
It's estimated $150,000 in per capita and occupational taxes went unpaid to the city last year. Powell, Rogers and Speaks, a Halifax-based collections agency, recouped $21,000 in delinquent payments in 2012. When City Hall turned to the firm to come up with a different plan to increase collections from tax scofflaws, the idea of a local census was discussed.
Steve Bartos, city clerk, told city council and the mayor during Wednesday's workshop that the firm would consider a pilot program in the city's smallest ward, the 10th, where representatives would knock on each door of the estimated 400 residential units to collect information on the occupants and compare it to the latest tax rolls and list of delinquents. They would use that information in their collections efforts.
He estimated the actual cost for the pilot program including materials, postage and labor at $4,734, but said Powell, Rogers and Speaks proposed to do it for $3,000.
If the proposal is authorized by vote at Monday's regular council meeting, the pilot program would begin shortly afterward, with results anticipated as early as late July, he said. Those results could be used for a wider statistical analysis for all of Shamokin to see if the return is worth the effort.
The city treasurer collects per capita and occupational taxes from Shamokin residents on behalf of the city, Northumberland County and Shamokin Area School District. Less than half of those bills went unpaid in 2011, according to previous reports.
The estimate of unpaid taxes discussed during the Wednesday workshop applies only to the city.
Delinquent property taxes for all Northumberland County municipalities are pursued by the county tax claims office.
Councilman Mike Snyder, who was wary of the effect of the proposed pilot program, suggested the city first compare the 10th Ward's collection rate to that of other city wards to ensure it would be effective there. He also suggested the collections firm consider performing the pilot program in the city ward with the highest rate of tax delinquency.
Bartos said he would relay the suggestions to the collections firm.
Councilman Bill Milbrand supports the idea, he said, especially if it gets results.