Keystone Collections Group to Collect Countywide Taxes Under New Statewide Mandate

All of Lebanon County’s (PA) 32 communities and school districts became the Commonwealth’s first governing bodies to collectively outsource tax collection to a private firm since the Pennsylvania legislature ratified Act 32 — requiring municipal governments and school districts in virtually all counties to centralize tax collection by 2012.

Under the new law, officials from school and municipal governments will need to determine what company can deliver on three important factors: increased revenue for the county, speed of service, and accountability, according to Thomas J. Kratzenberg, Esq., CPA, founder, Keystone Collections Group.  Keystone was selected by Lebanon officials to manage the County’s earned income tax collections, as well as real estate and per capita taxes in many area communities.

"Lebanon County is poised to lead all Pennsylvania counties in making a profound and positive impact on tax collection — a gain to all taxpayers and constituents alike, " said Gordon Waldhausen, chairman of the County’s Tax Collection Services Committee. "We selected Keystone because they understand the needs of municipalities and school districts, and because the company has a track record of success."

Waldhausen added Keystone was selected because the company aggressively modernized municipal tax collections via proprietary workflow applications, Check 21 ready high-speed imaging scanners and handwriting technology. "Clearly, Keystone has the technology and legal horsepower no other collections company has in the state.  They are ahead of the curve when it comes to helping governments achieve efficient, accurate and fair tax collections, which made Lebanon County officials very optimistic about selecting them," he said.

"Municipal collection is a highly specialized area, which is primarily driven by technology," said Kratzenberg, who was recently named by the American Collectors Association as one of America’s 50 most influential professionals in the collection industry. "Our leading investment in technology and customer service applications makes it easier and more efficient for governments to outsource their tax collections to a partner they know will deliver."

According to Waldhausen, Keystone was also selected because it would provide the most accurate, effective and fair tax collection model to serve constituents, and particularly because of its legal expertise in resolving payment with delinquent taxpayers.

"Keystone’s superior legal foundation enables taxing authorities to quickly and efficiently reconcile with taxpayers, especially those who, in the past, have been delinquent in their payment," said Waldhausen.  "Lawful taxpayers won’t see a change, but for the people who are not doing their part and not for a good reason, they will, indeed, experience a change."

Keystone Municipal Collections, the area’s most comprehensive collections agency, offers collection service within the municipal, earned income, real estate, utility, financial, and general business sectors in relation to tax and delinquent payment recoveries.  With more than 21 years of expertise, the company provides fully automated services to solve collection problems with top legal and accounting professionals. For more information, visit www.keystonecollects.com.