Jul. 6—SCRANTON — The Scranton Single Tax Office will switch to new tax billing software in a move officials anticipate will make the office's operations more efficient.

The Lackawanna County commissioners on Thursday approved the office's conversion to a software package offered by State College-based RBA Professional Data Systems Inc. that will include billing capability for real estate, business and mercantile, and local services taxes.

David Bulzoni, the county's chief financial officer, told the commissioners the office's existing software is no longer supported by its maker, Paragon Consulting Services Inc. He described the system as "outdated."

"Just to be clear, 'outdated' is being kind," Tax Collector Cathy Nealon Wechsler said. "It is over 20 years old."

The Single Tax Office collects real estate taxes for the county, the city of Scranton and the Scranton School District, along with local services and delinquent business privilege and mercantile taxes for the city and school district.

The commissioners approved agreements for three separate RBA software applications, each running three years with subsequent one-year renewal options.

Bulzoni said the county will pay one-time software licensing fees totaling $193,497, which will include training for Single Tax Office employees, plus annual maintenance fees that total $38,831.

The payments will come out of his departmental budget, he said.

Wechsler, who hopes her office can begin using the new software for the 2024 tax year, told the commissioners it includes "many upgrades" over the current system.

"It will improve our efficiency, our accuracy and our speed," she said.

In other business, the commissioners:

Engaged Highland Associates, Clarks Summit, to develop design options and prepare cost estimates for expansion and renovation of the public defender's office on the first floor of the courthouse. The company, which did a walkthrough of the space in April, will be paid no more than $6,250.

Approved a reimbursement agreement with the state Department of Transportation for the third phase of the Stauffer Industrial Park paving project in Taylor. The commissioners awarded a nearly $1.88 million contract to Kriger Construction Inc. in May for the work. PennDOT will pay 65% of the cost.

Contact the writer:

dsingleton@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9132.