Penn Forest Township supervisors have approved a change in the way they calculate the township tax collector’s pay.

The board voted 5-0 this week to pay the tax collector $1.50 per tax bill, instead of by salary.

“It’s quantified instead of just being a random salary number that doesn’t correspond to the amount of work done,” said Josiah Behrens III, Penn Forest Township tax collector.

The tax collector, an elected position, is responsible for collecting the taxes from the owners of the roughly 13,000 properties in the township on behalf of the township, school district and county.

Behrens said that the township is the only one of the three who pay a flat rate. His compensation from the school district is $1.75 per tax bill with a $4,000 base salary.

He said if the township ever decided to raise its zero-mill property tax, there would be significantly more work for the same compensation.

The supervisors said they have no plans to raise a property tax, but supported tying his pay to the number of bills.

“We have had a ton of people move here, and there are going to be a ton of bills sent out, even per capita,” said Supervisor Christian Bartulovich.

The change in compensation would take effect following the next election for the position, in accordance with state law. That will take place next year.

The supervisors also agreed to allow the tax collector to use space inside the township municipal building.

In other business

The supervisors:

• Forwarded a short-term rental ordinance to the Carbon County and Penn Forest Township planning commissions for review.

• Approved an additional $3,660 to purchase an F600 truck from Ray Price instead of an F550, which had already been approved.

• Voted to have WB Electric replace the light fixtures at the rear of the municipal building at a cost of $1,320.

• Heard a presentation from Brandon Bell, a military veteran seeking support from townships to declare Carbon County a Second Amendment sanctuary.