Heidelberg Township supervisors recently adopted two resolutions, one more controversial than the other.

The first increased the fee from $3 to $5 for a duplicate tax bill, from $15 to $20 for a tax certification, and $50 for a returned check fee, up from the current $30.

The second established the tax collector compensation rate from Jan. 1, 2018, through Dec. 31, 2021.

Compensation for collection of local real estate and streetlight taxes was set at 2.2 percent of taxes collected by the tax collector.

This is a commission decrease from the current 5 percent.

Supervisors presented a spread sheet delineating details behind its decision.

The comparison was drafted by Chairman Steve Bachman who used several online data sources.

With the increase in millage to 0.0014, a total assessed value of $269,558,600, number of parcels 1,774, and township tax dollar income of $377,382, at the current 5 percent rate, the tax collection commission is $18,869.

Supervisors pointed out, during the Jan. 19 meeting, other townships such as Lynn which has a millage of 0.0002, total assessed value of $352,332,200, parcels numbering 2,409, and total tax dollar income of $70,466, the township tax collection commission is $3,523.

Lowhill Township’s millage is 0.00066, total assessed value $253,966,600, parcels 1,098, and tax dollar income $168,697, results in tax collection commission of $8,435.

With a decrease to 2.2 percent, the new tax commission will amount to $8,302.

At the previous percentage, the township’s rate per parcel was $10.64. However, calculated at the new percentage, the township will be paid $4.68 per parcel.

Weisenberg Township’s rate per parcel is $8.25, Lowhill’s $7.68, and Lynn’s $1.46, according to the comparison sheet.

The board also recognized the large discrepancy in the commission amount being paid by the township versus Northwestern Lehigh School District, which based on a percentage of 0.001459 pays a $6,280 tax commission or $3.54 per parcel.

“Should the township really be paying over double the school for the exact same work?” Bachman asked. “The township budgets are extremely tight.

“You hear us penny pinching every month, scrambling to get an extra $100 out of everything that we do.”

Heidelberg Tax Collector Phyllis Breininger then commented on the proposal.

“I think you should come to the office and see what we do,” Breininger said. “There is a lot more involved than just collecting money and going to the bank.”

Bachman replied to her comments.

“It’s a drastic cut but it’s more in line with what the other townships are paying,” Bachman said. “Factoring in the number of parcels is in my thoughts, too. The more parcels, the more work.”

“It’s not the tax collector’s fault you had to raise the millage,” Breininger said.

“No, but it’s our responsibility that we are paying comparative to everyone else,” answered Bachman, reading a list of increasing tax commission amounts paid over the past several years under the previous four-year resolution, from $8,600 in 2012 to $13,006 in 2016.

The resolution was voted on and passed unanimously by the board.