DP News

March 9, 2010

No tax balance for Lake Township

County serves subpoena to collector for failure to provide proof of bond coverage.

By Jennifer Learn-Andes jandes@timesleader.com
Luzerne County Reporter
Jennifer Learn-Andes on Facebook   |   @TLJenLearnAndes on Twitter

Luzerne County Controller Walter Griffith has served his second subpoena, this one on Lake Township tax collector Donna Kocher.

Kocher has failed to balance her tax collection books from 2009, he said.

She is also the only elected tax collector who has failed to provide proof of bond coverage for 2010.

Bonds protect taxing bodies if property tax payments are lost or stolen. The county won’t issue taxes in the township unless the township has a bonded tax collector and Kocher closes out last year’s books, Griffith said.

The county obtained a letter indicating that Kocher’s bond had not been renewed because she had a bad credit report.

Griffith and his staff met with Kocher Monday morning to discuss her records. Representatives of the township and Lake-Lehman School District also attended the meeting, he said.

Griffith said he issued the subpoena because he still has unanswered questions and wants Kocher to testify under oath.

“At the very least, there are definitely some record-keeping issues that have to be addressed,” Griffith said. “We need to make sure the taxpayers’ money is protected and that taxing bodies are getting the proper amount.”

Kocher could not be immediately reached for comment Monday.

The subpoena orders her to appear to testify on March 17. She was instructed to bring tax collection records from 2006 through 2009.

Lake-Lehman School Board members recently publicly discussed a 2008 audit that indicated Kocher was late turning over taxes. County officials also have questioned the township’s poor tax-collection rate.

Kocher has said that she sufficiently performed her job and sees no reason for criticism.

Griffith, who took office in January, said the controller’s office has also failed to audit Kocher and many other municipal tax collectors for three years. Griffith said he is short-staffed but attempting to get caught up on numerous overdue audits.

“It’s unacceptable,” Griffith said.

Griffith executed his first subpoena last week, when acting Sheriff Charles Guarnieri appeared to answer questions about sheriff’s office gun sales.

Jennifer Learn-Andes, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 831-7333.

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