Surety Bond News

SB 1063, enacted in the state of Pennsylvania, allows local governments to cooperate while collecting taxes. Under the previous law, each governmental unit had their tax officers collect their own taxes; it was a requirement for the local tax officers collecting to be bonded. The bond required of the officers had to be equal to the maximum amount of taxes that the officer may have in their possession at any point in time. Under the new tax collection procedures, a tax committee will be created and the bond requirements for the tax officers of local governments are basically the same to the prior bond requirements; the only difference is the amount required. SB 1063 allows the tax committee to establish the bond amount so that it will be adequate to secure the officer’s responsibility including insurance, fiscal controls and other risk management/loss prevention that a given tax collection district uses.