Lawrence Co. tax payments roll in

STAFF REPORT

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Lawrence County property taxpayers stepped up to the plate and turned in $902,130 by the end of January, says county Treasurer Richard Rapone.

“That’s phenomenal,” said Rapone, who added that the sooner the county collects taxes, the sooner it can invest the money.

The tax bills have to be mailed by March 1.

Last year’s end-of-January total, he said, was $1,192.

The reason the collection was so much higher this year, Rapone said, is because his office got the tax bills, all 52,640 of them, mailed out sooner.

Last year, that couldn’t be done, he said, because his office was dealing with a backlog of 2007 taxes. Also, he wasn’t sworn in until Jan. 7, he said.

The county has made its first investment of the year — a certificate of deposit for $500,000, Rapone said.

“I’m excited about the way the tax payments are coming in,” he told the county commissioners at their meeting Tuesday. “February looks promising as well.”

There is an incentive for paying taxes early. The county offers a 2 percent discount if they’re paid by May 1.

The treasurer’s office will start a tax outreach program Feb. 27. It runs through April 1. The office will be at sites throughout the county between those dates to make it easier for people to stop in and pay their taxes.

For a complete schedule of dates, times and locations, go to www.co.lawrence.pa.us or call (724) 656-2123.