Principals back merging Orchard Park offices
The two officials who would be most affected by the proposal to consolidate Orchard Park’s tax receiver with the office of town clerk say it’s a good idea.
But Tax Receiver Carol R. Hutton and Town Clerk Janis Colarusso differ on when the offices should be merged.
“I think a two-year time span would probably be fair,” said Hutton, who was appointed to the post in June 1994, and ran for the position later that year.
“It won’t take two years to do,” said Colarusso, who would have the offices merged by Jan. 1, 2011.
She is running for town supervisor this year, and her proposal assumes she would win the election this November. That would leave the clerk’s post open Jan. 1. She suggests Hutton could serve as clerk for the year.
“As soon as spring taxes are done, we would start moving her over here to get ready for the fall,” Colarusso said.
“I could easily handle that, with the knowledge of the tax office,” Hutton said.
Colarusso suggests having a referendum in November 2010 on consolidating the two offices, with an effective date of Jan. 1, 2011.
If she is elected supervisor, there would be an election in November 2010 to fill the remainder of the clerk’s term. If the consolidation referendum passed, the clerk would have added duties.
If Colarusso loses the election for supervisor, the new board would decide on any consolidation.
“I think the best proposal is the one I’m offering. If I don’t win, we can still do it,’ she said.
Hutton said the tax receiver’s busy time is December through February, getting the county and town tax bills out and taking in the payments. The other big push comes in the fall, when school taxes are due.
“I know how my office works in the busy times. I’m sure she knows when she’s busy,” Hutton said. “I see no problem with trying to cross-train.”
There is one full-time employee and one part-time employee in the tax receiver’s office, and one part-time and two full-time workers in the clerk’s office.
Both elected officials are hands-on supervisors, doing everything from filing to answering the phone to waiting on people at the counter.
“I don’t have an overabundance of staff,” Hutton said.
The tax receiver makes $56,021 this year, and the clerk’s salary is $57,702. Savings from the consolidation appear to be the cost of the salary and benefits for the tax receiver.
In addition to collecting taxes, the tax receiver collects fees for all building and engineering inspections, composting, recycling bins and issues tax receipts.
Colarusso said if the offices merged, she would like to see Senior Services take over the issuance of handicapped driving passes and another office distribute office supplies.
“Once those procedures are out of this office, everything else is counter work,” Colarusso said.
“I’m sure something will be worked out,” Hutton said. “We’re all on the same page as far as getting something done.”
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