Longtime county treasurer faces Republican challenger
For the first time in 12 years, incumbent Washington County Treasurer Francis King has opposition in his bid for re-election.
As the Democrat seeks his fifth, four-year term in office in Tuesday’s general election, he said his years of experience will become even more important as the county moves toward a change in how it assesses real estate, which will take effect in 2017.
However, his Republican opponent, political newcomer David Borodaty, thinks it is time for a change.
Borodaty said he decided to run because he is concerned about how taxpayer money is collected and spent. “Also, it is time for a new generation of leadership to take us into the 21st century,” he wrote in an email response.
The two men are vying for the office that is responsible for billing county taxes, receiving real estate tax payments and issuing payment for county bills, as well as issuing small games of chance, hunting, fishing and dog licenses and administering the county’s hotel tax.
“I think it’s definitely important to have continuity and experience,” said King, in a face-to-face interview. “I think I have good administrative ability, and the ability to be able to listen to people to understand their problems. Maybe I can’t give them the answer they want, but an answer they can understand without causing hard feelings.”
He said when the new assessment values on property go into effect, “I know we will get a lot of phone calls, and some may be irate.” While the calls will be rerouted to the tax assessment office, which is responsible for the reassessment, they have to be handled with tact and sensitivity, King said.
He also pointed out that along with the reassessment, Tyler Technologies is developing a new tax software system for the treasurer’s office so it can share information with the tax assessment office. “We have been working closely with them since April 2014 in developing the software package,” King explained. The system will be tested in 2016 to be ready when the new tax bills are sent in 2017, and he said it’s important to have leadership continuity in that process.
King decided to seek another term at age 70 because “I enjoy working with the people and my staff. My office really operates like clockwork, and the staff is very friendly and efficient.” He said if re-elected, he would decide midway through the term whether it will be his last.
Borodaty, who declined an in-person interview, submitted email responses and responded to questions in a phone interview. He also said he expects some calls from disgruntled taxpayers following the reassessment.
“We’re going to have to manage those phone calls and not ignore them, and redirect them accordingly,” he said. Borodaty added he would make sure the new software system being developed is user-friendly and that the transition is as seamless as possible
He pointed to his background as a U.S. Marine, and also as co-founder of A.I.R. Dentaplex in Pittsburgh, where he said he was involved in handling business financial affairs.
Borodaty said he would like to modernize and streamline the treasurer’s office operation by adding later hours for the public’s convenience and adding more online services. He said he also would upgrade and modernize services and offer convenient payment methods.
King, who noted he also is a veteran, explained he considered later hours, but there did not seem to be a need. He said it also would create security concerns. He said his office’s website already accepts online tax payments and dog license payments, and offers forms for hunting and fishing licenses, which must be mailed to the state Game Commission.