Michele Whitney

Lock Haven

In 2024, Clinton County residents raised serious concerns about the Keystone Central School District (KCSD) Tax Office and the Clinton County Earned Income Tax Collection Committee (TCC), as revealed through Right-to-Know (RTK) documents. These public records can be accessed at tinyurl.com/kcsdtaxoffice.

The findings suggest a troubling lack of transparency in a proposal to outsource $40 million in local tax collection to Keystone Collections Group, a for-profit company in Irwin, PA. Private communications among KCSD employees, including former Tax Office Supervisor Nick Grimes, Business Office Fiscal Operations Supervisor Kristie Serafini-Brooks (former TCC Chair), Business Manager Joni MacIntyre and Superintendent Dr. Frank Redmon, point to a contract developed without a process to ensure fair bidding, or clear authorization from the KCSD board or TCC delegates. This raises questions of potential collusion and/or favoritism, bypassing standard RFP (Request for Proposal) protocols meant to ensure fairness.

Adding to the concern, the TCC’s weighted voting system gives KCSD’s delegate, Kristi Serafini-Brooks, a 58% majority vote, a structure not widely shared with other TCC delegates or the public. This imbalance creates an atmosphere where municipalities lack an equal voice in tax collection decisions, which could affect local jobs and services.

Citizens are requesting a review of TCC bylaws, adoption of Robert’s Rules, a SOC 2 or 3 audit of the Tax Office and a public assessment of local tax collection methods, all in the name of accountability. I urge all concerned citizens to attend the upcoming TCC meeting at Lock Haven City Hall (20 E Church Street, Lock Haven) on Monday, June 30, at 6 p.m., to demand transparency and express their concerns. Crucial questions remain unanswered: What was the reason for foregoing the RFP process? Who gave the go-ahead for private contract negotiations? What accounts for the continued use of weighted voting, and how will TCC delegates promote fair governance? Most urgently, will KCSD conduct a third-party investigation and audit to restore trust, or will the school board rush to close the Tax Office without addressing these issues?

Clinton County deserves answers and transparency. I urge the KCSD board and TCC to act swiftly to address these concerns and rebuild community confidence.