Defending the tax collector

In response to Mark Stevens’ recent letter printed in the Pike County Dispatch on March 4, we must clarify the charges directed toward the Borough of Milford Tax Collector, Carol Osterberg. As a member of the Milford Borough Planning Commission, a regular attendee of Borough Council meetings and as one who is obviously aware of the Borough’s budget, Mr. Stevens failed to point out that all of the Borough employees, including the police force, received a minor wage increase for their hard work and dedication to the Borough of Milford. As per Pennsylvania Commonwealth Tax law, the total compensation for the tax collector “shall not exceed 5 percent of the amount of taxes collected.” Sandy Leiser, tax collector for Dingman Township, has confirmed that this compensation is consistent with other municipalities in Pike County and, in fact, Carol Osterberg is therefore probably one of the lowest paid tax collectors in the county. The Council did not specifically increase Ms. Osterberg’s wage by 11.8 percent. Her wage will be calculated as that percentage allowable by law of the actual taxes collected. For the record, the current budget was unanimously approved by all council members except for Ms. Osterberg’s husband and Borough President, Matt Osterberg, who recused himself from any budget votes, due to his wife’s position as an elected Borough official; and he is not represented in this letter of response. Over the past several years, Mr. Stevens has repeatedly appeared before the Borough Council with a number of concerns. In particular, the record will show that Mr. Stevens has raised concerns regarding the use of the Ann Street public park which is across the street from his residence. Each time, the Council has made every reasonable effort to accommodate his concerns as best as possible while still maintaining the community’s right to enjoy the use of the park. If Mr. Stevens had any legitimate question to pose regarding the borough’s budget, he had ample opportunity to do so at any one of the publicly advertised budget meetings and the Council would have respectfully answered his questions as we have always done. Carol Osterberg has been extremely responsible, diligent and deserving in her role as tax collector. There was no reason for Mr. Stevens to make her the focal point of his letter and she deserves an apology. Councilman Ed Raarup, on behalf of the Milford Borough Council