Hempfield OKs change in compensation rate for property tax collector

Hempfield supervisors agreed Monday to pitch in more for the township property tax collector’s compensation, a figure officials said had gone unchanged for decades.

Supervisor Doug Weimer estimated it’s likely been 35 years since the elected office has gotten a raise.

“I think we’re overdue on changing the compensation formula,” he said.

Supervisors unanimously approved moving to a system that will pay the elected tax collector $1 per mailing of regular and supplemental bills as well as payment reminders. In 2024, there were 21,752 such mailings, according to information provided by the tax collector to the township.

The change will go into effect for the next four-year term, which starts in 2026, said township manager Aaron Siko. The tax collector currently gets a fixed annual fee of $13,000 from the township.

Faye Rosatti won election to her first four-year term in 2021. She said Wednesday she was thrilled the township considered her request, but was disappointed the school district left its rate flat.

“I’m glad that they paid attention to it and took a look at it,” she said of the township.

The school district pays the tax collector $3 per bill for Hempfield residents. Rosatti had requested the district switch to a percentage commission based on amount collected to come in line with tax collectors in other municipalities served by the district. School directors voted to maintain the $3 per bill compensation during a meeting last week.

Rosatti requested supervisors, Westmoreland County and Hempfield Area school directors adjust their compensation rates, citing operational costs. Township supervisors discussed the matter during their workshop session last week and asked Siko to come up with some options for them to consider. Among the choices were paying a fixed rate or a percentage-based commission.

Rosatti said she bills about $1.6 million worth of property taxes for the township and more than $40 million for the school district. As the county’s largest municipality, she gets about $66,000, before taxes, in compensation from the county, which bases its figure on a percentage of what is collected.

Being a tax collector means there are several months a year with no taxes to bill or collect. She also pays Hempfield $700 monthly for office space.

“I don’t think anybody out there understands how a tax collector gets paid,” she said.