Retiring tax collector saves township money

Wantage — When longtime tax collector Marcia Snyder retires this summer, her replacement will get a raise but the township will save money. That’s because the current assistant tax collector, Melissa Caton, who will move up to the tax collector job, won’t be replaced. And she will earn nearly $8,000 less than her predecessor. Snyder, who has held the position for the past 19 years and who has been a township employee for the past 24 years, will retire at the end of June. Township Administrator Jim Doherty made the announcement at the April 15 Township Committee meeting, adding that a raise in salary will be included in her retirement package. “Our tax collector is retiring, and the township has entered into a retirement package with her with an increase which would include the first six months in 2010,” he said. Snyder is slated to receive an increase of .5 percent, Doherty said, making her salary $57,460. Caton will move into Snyder’s position, with her salary increasing from $35,118 to $50,000. Because Snyder has spent several weeks this spring on medical leave, Caton has taken on the role of acting tax collector, with the township planning to raise her salary to $44,000 — retroactively to April 1 — until July 1, when she assumes the role of tax collector. Both Snyder and Caton currently receive health benefits, but Snyder’s coverage will cease on July 1, Doherty said, adding, “The budget already reflects this reduction.” The township will not be filling the now-vacant position of assistant tax collector. A final vote on this matter will be taken at the committee’s April 29 meeting.