Schuylkill County Treasurer Linda Marchalk is reminding county residents that dog licenses are now past due for 2016.
State law requires that all dogs 3 months or older be licensed by Jan. 1. Failure to license a dog is a summary offense and can carry a maximum fine of $300 for each unlicensed dog.
Marchalk said Wednesday that about 57 percent of dog owners have gotten licenses so far. State dog wardens will start canvassing the county in March and will continue throughout the year, she said.
Licenses are available at the county treasurer’s office or local dog agents. They are also available online at www.padoglicense.com.
An annual license is $8.50 and a lifetime license is $51.50. If the dog is spayed or neutered, the annual fee is $6.50 while a lifetime license is $31.50. Discounts are available for senior citizens and people with disabilities.
“My philosophy is just to be more efficient and cost effective,” Marchalk said Wednesday.
Since taking office in January, Marchalk said she has worked with the Management Information Systems department to automate the treasurer’s report. She said her office has also since implemented scanning documents to save filing space and make them more easily accessible on computer and printing to .pdf to email checks and other documents. She also said she has worked with court administration to expedite juror payment.
Marchalk said she is reviewing the county’s hotel taxes. A 3 percent tax paid by hotel customers, the county received about $275,000 from the tax last year. The county keeps only 2 percent of that total amount while the rest goes to the county’s visitors bureau, Marchalk said.
The ordinance requires monthly reports from each establishment in Schuylkill County. Marchalk said a few places have not been complying with the ordinance.
“I will be making phone calls and pursuing compliance with the ordinance,” Marchalk said.
The treasurer’s office has also posted a small games of chance procedural manual on the departments page on the county website at www.co.schuylkill.pa.us.
“Small Games of Chance is a very complicated process and there are likely many people not in compliance,” Marchalk said. “My strategy is to try to save tax dollars, and if there is revenue out there we can get I’m going to be doing it.”