Tax collection and assistance offices in Indiana and Washington are among seven that are slated to close later this year to trim some $3.8 million from the state budget.
"It's really part of the governor's commitment to reducing the size of state government," Steve Kniley, press secretary for the department, said Wednesday.
Kniley described the closings as "the least disruptive" response to budget cuts in the current and previous fiscal year.
Gov. Ed Rendell directed the department to slash costs by 3 percent in the 2004-05 fiscal year, he said. That comes in the wake of a 7 percent cut in the 2003-04 fiscal year.
"We really don't have any programs we can cut," Kniley said. "This is the best we could do to meet our budget targets."
Tax offices in Bradford, McKean County; Doylestown, Bucks County; Lancaster, Lancaster County; Newtown Square, Delaware County; and Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County; also will be closed, eliminating 64 full-time positions. There are seven workers at the Indiana office, located at 2263 Philadelphia St., and 10 at the Washington office, at 90 W. Chestnut St.
Kniley said all workers have been informed and most will have opportunities to transfer via "seniority bumps." The department is trying to find the remaining workers employment with other state agencies.
No definite date has been set for the closings, but Kniley said he expects the process to take two or three months.
Other offices will expand their collection areas, and the department will use new means to collect taxes, including wage garnishment and citation powers, "abilities we didn't have before," he said.
Tax assistance will be provided through outreach programs. Department personnel will be available at libraries and various state offices during the next tax season to help taxpayers complete paperwork.
"We're going to make sure that people still have access to the department," Kniley said.
