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The Lancaster County Treasurer has a range of duties which is unique in the Commonwealth. The Lancaster County Treasurer is elected to this office for a term of four years.
 
RECEIPT OF COUNTY TAXES

A fundamental duty is the receipt of County taxes. The real estate tax is the main source of revenue for county government. The County Treasurer is responsible for collecting taxes on approximately 92,000 of the 182,000 taxable properties in Lancaster County. Should a property owner fall behind in their regularly scheduled property tax payments, the Tax Claim Bureau within the Treasurer's Office will work with taxpayers to assist them in meeting their obligations. The Treasurer collects delinquent real estate taxes for the county, as well as for each municipality and school district within the county.

RETIREMENT BOARD

Another function of the County Treasurer is to serve on the County Employees Retirement Board with the three Commissioners and Controller . The purpose of this County Retirement Board is to invest member contributions in a fiscally prudent manner so that when employees retire they will have a steady source of retirement income. There is approximately $163 million for which the County Board is responsible.

INVESTING COUNTY RECEIPTS

The County Treasurer is also responsible for investing county receipts in short to intermediate term investments until such funds are needed for general county operational costs or otherwise properly disbursed. This amount usually approximates $20 to $30 million, but can get as high as $60 to $70 million during brief periods of time. The County Treasurer's Office serves as the repository for all monies remitted from the various county departments, with all funds kept separate and fully accounted for on a department by department basis. The total amount of monies which passes through the County Treasurer's Office during any given year approximates $280 million.

HOTEL TAX

Effective January 1, 2000 , the Treasurer was assigned the authority and responsibility to collect the Lancaster County Hotel Room Rental Tax and the County Hotel Excise Tax. These taxes, levied on the patrons of hotels in Lancaster County, are intended to benefit the Lancaster City Conference / Convention Center and to promote the tourism industry in Lancaster County. These taxes generate over $5 million annually for such purposes.

LICENSES AND PERMITS

Finally, the Treasurer is responsible for the sale and issuance of a number of licenses and permits, among them hunting, fishing, dog, bingo , and small games of chance.