Could “Tax Fitness” become Job Requirement?
An item on the agenda for next week’s meeting of Allegheny County Council is to discuss the possibility of adding language to the County’s administrative code section on personnel to add a requirement that a prospective employee be current on County real estate taxes.
From the language of the proposed ordinance, the County Treasurer has “…determined that the County is owed past due and/or delinquent taxes from certain individuals employed by the County”. This proposal would add language for prospective hires. An applicant would have to disclose ownership of property in the County: if they own property, the County Treasurer would have to certify that there are no past due or delinquent County taxes on the property or, if there are, that the applicant has made arrangements through an installment payment plan. False information or no disclosure of property interest under the proposal would lead to termination if the employee was hired.
Currently in the administrative code under “applicant fitness” (5-1007.05) an applicant’s “relative fitness will be measured by examination of job-related knowledge, skills, integrity…” and education experience and training; residency, with the exception of a few classifications, has to be established within the County within one year of taking a job with the County (5-1007.11) and immediate family members cannot be employed if they are under the direct supervision of another family member (5-1007.13).