Voters to Decide Future of Orangetown Receiver of Taxes Office

Voters in Orangetown will choose the short and long-term future of the office of Receiver of Taxes during Tuesday's general election.

In the short term, they will vote on who will fill the office. Incumbent Robert Simon of Pearl River, who has held the office since 1999, will be on the Republican, Conservative and Independence lines. Challenger Chris Smith of Pearl River will be on the ballot on the Democratic and Orangetown First lines.

Whoever wins may be Orangetown's last Receiver of Taxes. Tuesday's ballot also includes a referendum to approve the elimination of the office and the consolidation of its duties with the Orangetown Town Clerk's Office. A yes vote would on Proposition 7 will approve the consolidation effective Jan. 1, 2018. 

The Orangetown Town Council voted unanimously to put the measure on the ballot as a cost-cutting move, though it is still unclear how much money it would save. The 2013 budget for the office is $230,000, but that included two full-time employees, one of which is currently not funded for 2014. 

Orangetown Director of Finance Jeff Bencik has publicly estimated that it would save the town $75,000, possibly more depending on whether or not the town continues to pay for seasonal help to perform the tax receiver's duties. No official number was released by the Orangetown Town Council, in part because details regarding the process of the consolidation have not been worked out. 

Simon spoke about the change at a meet the candidates night in Tappan and said the savings could be as little as $20,000 to $30,000 per year. He argued that a potential pay bump would be in order for the Town Clerk and the staff in that office for taking on an increased workload. Though he has questioned how much the savings would be, he has come out in favor of the consolidation.

"I'm always in favor of saving the taxpayers dollars, cutting expenses and helping people out," Simon said.

He did recently ask the town board to fill the vacant full-time position in the department. Councilman Tom Diviny said he did not think a decision should be made on that position until after the results of the referendum vote are in. The Orangetown Council will have to adopt it's 2014 budget by Nov. 19. 

Smith has pushed aggressively for passage of Proposition 7, taking on the campaign slogan "In it to end it," also promising to make the position part time except during tax collection.