Controller will attach pay of Felasco for per capita tax

The treasurer also failed to pay his per capita taxes on time in 2001 and 2002
& lt;a href=mailto:cioffi@vindy.com & gt;By LAURE CIOFFI & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Gary Felasco can add per capita tax to the list of taxes he hasn't paid on time this year.
The Lawrence County controller's office received an attachment of wages Friday from New Castle for Felasco, the county's elected treasurer.
Felasco came under fire earlier this year after it was revealed that he hadn't paid property taxes on his Cunningham Avenue home since 2000. A "stay" was improperly placed on the property, keeping it from the yearly tax sale.
He was removed as the appointed director of the county tax claim bureau and the Pennsylvania attorney general's office has been called in to investigate the matter.
Felasco said Friday that he believed his per capita tax, a $15 yearly payment to the municipality of residence, was automatically taken out of his paycheck.
County records show that Felasco also didn't pay his per capita taxes to the city in 2001 and 2002 and wage attachment notices were sent to the county.
Extra costs
Lawrence County Controller Maryann Reiter said the city sends her office notice of any delinquent per capita taxes and the controller's office garnishes the wages of any county employees and returns the money to the city.
But instead of paying the yearly $15 fee, those who are late end up paying a $3.75 penalty and an additional $15 to the city for other costs. The total bill for 2003's per capita tax came to $33.75, according to county records.
& lt;a href=mailto:cioffi@vindy.com & gt;cioffi@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;