COLUMBIANA CO. Drop-off box for taxes mulled

The device could offer 24-hour convenience to county residents, an official says.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Not that anyone enjoys paying property taxes, but Columbiana County Treasurer Linda Bolon would at least like to make the chore more convenient.
Bolon said she's considering installing a secure drop-off box that would enable property owners to pay their taxes without leaving their car.
They could simply drive up to the box and deposit an envelope containing their payment. Treasurer's office employees could pick up the payments later.
"I think it would be a help for people around here," Bolon said.
She explained that taxes may be paid by mail. But dozens of county residents prefer to pay their bills in person, either to save money on a stamp or just to be certain the payment reaches the treasurer's office.
Consequently, after each of the two annual tax billings, the courthouse is visited by dozens of taxpayers wanting to pay in person.
"They feel more secure that it's getting there," Bolon said.
If a drop-off box were installed near the courthouse, taxpayers could still accomplish the same goals and do so without having to find a place to park and actually come inside, Bolon said.
Another plus would be making it possible to drop off a tax payment after the courthouse is closed. Drop-off payments could be made 24 hours a day.
Topic of discussion
Bolon said she and her staff have frequently discussed how nice it would be to have a drive-through window like banks have.
But that has been little more than a pipe dream, given the cost of such a feature and the impossibility of installing one in the historical stone courthouse, Bolon noted.
Having a drop-off box near the courthouse, however, "would be the next best thing," she said.
Bolon said she's still looking into the matter.
She said she intends to research whether other counties are using the devices and how secure they are.
Another factor is cost. Bolon wasn't sure how expensive the boxes are. Also unclear is how expensive it would be to install one of the devices, which would have to be securely anchored.
If she decides to have a drop-off box put in, it probably won't be for about a year, she said.