McGuffey, tax collectors settle pay challenge
Four McGuffey tax collectors who fought a move to cut their pay have agreed to a settlement with the school district.
A “stipulation and settlement” filed in Washington County Court late last month shows the tax collectors, under the agreement, will switch from commission-based pay to a flat salary.
Washington County Judge Valarie Costanzo approved the settlement in an Oct. 27 order. It was signed by Michael Savona, the plaintiffs’ attorney, and Joseph Cavrich of Andrews & Price, the firm representing the school district.
Eric Donnelly of Buffalo Township, Carol Schilinski of South Franklin Township, Marissa King of Morris Township and Melinda Duncan of West Finley Township brought a challenge earlier this year to a Jan. 19 school board resolution Savona alleged in a complaint would have meant a “drastic and unreasonable decrease in compensation” for his clients.
The district denied the allegations but was “desirous of avoiding the cost and uncertainty of litigation,” according to the settlement documents.
McGuffey tax collectors previously received a 3 percent commission on the first $100,000 in revenue and 1.13 percent of revenue over that amount.
Under the school board’s now-vacated resolution, the district would instead have paid the various tax collectors $1.50 per bill starting in 2018. Unlike commission-based pay, the per-bill rate wouldn’t increase in line with the district millage rate.
The tax collectors’ complaint sought a permanent injunction to keep their existing pay structure.
Savona asserted the new pay structure would have cut his clients’ pay – which last year ranged from $11,613 for Duncan to $35,292 for Schilinski, who serves in an elected capacity for South Franklin and is appointed to that position in tiny Green Hills – by between 87 and 95 percent next year.
Under the terms of the settlement, starting at the beginning of the next district tax year, in July 2018, the tax collectors will be paid flat salaries as part of the regular district payroll of 85 percent of the total they make in commission this fiscal year. Their salaries will remain fixed at those amounts until June 2022, “and continuing thereafter unless otherwise modified.”
Tax collectors also will be allowed to charge a certification fee of $45 for district tax certifications.
Nine municipalities comprise the school district, and the settlement of the action brought by the four tax collectors also will affect collectors from East Finley, Claysville, Donegal and Blaine, who are not named in the suit.