Paying taxes in Preston County will soon be a little easier

Apr. 13—KINGWOOD — Soon, the public will be able to drop off tax payments in a box outside the Preston County Tax Office.

During Wednesday's Preston County Commission meeting, Jennifer Lewis, chief tax deputy, said the box will be used for tax payments only. She said a notice on the Sheriff's Department Facebook Page will alert the public when it is available for use.

Lewis said customers using the box should not drop off cash ; payments should be check-only.

Lewis also told commissioners she hired Kim Abbey to fill a vacancy in the tax office. She said the position has been empty since October.

Stacy Greaser, victim advocate at Preston County Prosecutor's Office, requested commissioners proclaim April 18-24 as National Crime Victims' Rights Week.

Greaser presented the commissioners with a proclamation they signed and said she believes it's important to support the victims of crimes, mentioning recent felonies that lead to the death of several Preston County residents.

Assessor Connie Ervin asked if there was an update on requests for employee raises. She was referring to her request for raises during a 3-1 /2 hour workshop in March. At that time, Ervin said she calculated the dollar amount of a 3 % raise and a 5 % raise. Ervin also asked for a special compensatory raise for an employee who was instrumental in getting employees' computers hooked up while they were working from their homes.

Commission President Don Smith told Ervin there was no money for raises.

After the meeting, he said what commissioners discussed with office holders was if they lost an employee, they could use the money from that position for raises or to hire a replacement.

Smith said if a high-salary employee left and a replacement was hired at a lower salary, the remainder of that money could be used for raises.

"There is no money there, " he said, "not across the board."

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