New Castle News

Local News

Discussion

July 14, 2008

Shenango questioned about tax collections

By MaryAlice Meli

An audit of Shenango school district’s real estate tax collection for 2006 shows no findings, but the township has questions.

Township resident Dale “Butch” Wehr asked the supervisors last night how much is in question.

Solicitor Gabe Cilli said the figure is about $28,000 but emphasized “there is no confirmation of anything wrong.”

In April 2007, elected tax collector Carol M. Reed suffered a stroke and a heart attack, Cilli said.

The supervisors could not remove her because hers is an elected office. Then, “her family indicated that she couldn’t (return) and she resigned.”

Her work was assumed temporarily by South New Castle Borough’s tax collector, because that community is part of the Shenango school district. In January, the supervisors appointed Mary Jane Cousins to complete Reed’s term through Dec. 31, 2009.

Cilli said that Mark Turnley, a certified public accountant from Ambridge, performed an audit for the township because he had completed one for the school district in the fall.

Township secretary Brian Tanner said the township’s tax bills are more complicated than the school district’s because they include a street light tax for some residents, another assessment for those within a certain distance from a fire hydrant and a per capita tax.

A further complication, Tanner said, is that “in the past, school district and township (tax amounts) were on one statement. Now they’re separate because of a law that allows the taxpayer to pay in installments.”

Tanner said Reed provided totals for the four different levies, but not a more specific breakdown.

Dr. Daniel Bell, the Shenango schools superintendent, said Reed provided the district with a more complete breakdown that includes taxpayers’ names, tax amounts, payment dates and deposit records. He said she had done this at the district’s request to comply with the auditor’s requirements.

Bell said all money the district expected to be collected has been tallied.

Turnley said payments collected for the school district balanced with what had been deposited in the bank. However, he added, Reed’s record keeping for the township “left a difficult audit trail to follow the flow of money.”

Because the school and township tax bills were on the same statement, taxpayers often paid with a single check. Turnley said he needs further explanation, which he has not been able to get from Reed, about the method she used to compute the figures in the two accounts.

In addition, he said, some of the records were typed and some were handwritten. Some of the handwritten notes are illegible, he said, but not necessarily inaccurate. He said Reed might be able to clarify what they say but she has been too ill to do so.

“Potentially, this may all be resolved by a conversation with her office,” Turnley said.

“We don’t want to accuse anybody of anything,” Cilli said. “It’s in claim right now. The audit suggests a shortfall but it’s possible it all can be explained. I’ve always known her to try to do a good job.”

Reed’s bonding insurance company, Western Surety Co. of Sioux Falls, S.D., is now conducting an investigation.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local News
  • money.jpg City pension fund sees gain in final quarter

    The city of New Castle’s employee pension fund gained in value during the last quarter of 2011. The gain is attributed to a strong showing in the stock market during the period following poor performance in the previous three months.

    February 7, 2012 1 Photo

  • gavel.jpg Judge denies new trial in McGaffic case

    Senior Judge Michael J. Wherry has denied a new trial regarding a property in downtown New Castle. In an order of court handed down yesterday, Wherry denied a new trial “because the plaintiffs lack standing as explained in the order of court dated Dec. 21, 2011.”

    February 7, 2012 1 Photo

  • Olszak.jpg Mitchel Olszak: Scammers learn to feed off human fear

    A few weeks ago, my computer went crazy. Boxes filled with warning notices and ominous-looking yellow triangles popped up on my screen, to tell me my system was filled with dangerous viruses. I was in imminent danger of having all sorts of personal information, passwords and financial data stolen.

    February 6, 2012 1 Photo

  • manna.jpg John K. Manna: State Supreme Court explains fault with redistricting plan

    A couple of things: We finally have an opinion. A week after it threw out a redistricting plan for state legislative districts, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court released its opinion yesterday.

    February 4, 2012 1 Photo

  • Mitchell.jpg Elected councilman contests disqualification

    A New Castle City Council candidate contends he should not be disqualified from holding office because he is seeking clemency.

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • Ramsey.jpg Dave Ramsey: Proper insurance can transfer risk

    “Dave Says" is a weekly column featuring financial advice from nationally syndicated radio host Dave Ramsey. His column is filled with timely, relevant questions and answers taken from actual letters and calls on Ramsey's radio program, “The Dave Ramsey Show.”

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • City planning OKs school addition

     The New Castle Planning Commission has recommended a conditional use be granted for a school addition. The New Castle Area School District plans to construct an addition to the Harry W. Lockley Kindergarten Center and create an early learning center.

    February 3, 2012

  • money.jpg Mortgage rates trigger surge in buying, refinancing

    Some sectors of the economy may still be sluggish, but the housing market in Lawrence County isn’t one of them. Mortgage loans, both for refinancing and home purchases, are up significantly in the last several months in the county, according to local banks and real estate agents.

    February 2, 2012 1 Photo

  • Brothers.jpg Lori Brothers: Organic is good, but it’s not always necessary

    How often do you have a great conversation with your produce man? I encourage it. I got quite an explanation about how organic veggies are handled. I also found out there are certain guidelines about where they can even be located to be sold as “organic.”

    February 2, 2012 1 Photo

  • Mastrangelo.jpg Our Opinion, Part 2: Mayor’s hiring of his son raises more serious questions

    If you ask New Castle residents to identify the biggest problem in local government, one word will stand out:
    Nepotism. The term, of course, refers to the hiring of one’s relatives for positions, regardless of the fact others are equally — or more — deserving of available positions.

    February 1, 2012 1 Photo 1 Story