The Butler County commissioners on Wednesday approved a resolution setting new compensation rates in 2018 for property tax collectors.

The rate for every real estate tax card billed for the first 5,000 cards will increase from $3.50 to $3.75 a card.

The rate for every tax card issued starting with number 5,001 per collector will be $1 per card.

The rate for every county supplemental or interim tax card billed remains $2.50.

Also changed is the breakdown of the three payments made to the tax collectors annually.

The new allotments will be 50 percent in April, 40 percent in June and the final 10 percent in December.

Under the current system, 50 percent is paid in April, 25 percent of June and 25 percent in December.

County chief clerk Scott Andrejchak said the change would cost the county $20,000 next year.

County Commissioner Leslie Osche, board chairman, said the rate changes won’t result in any tax collector receiving a hefty pay hike.

“You don’t have anyone getting an exorbitant increase,” she said.

Osche said the new rates were devised in response to the request of tax collectors.

“They came to us,” she said.

Osche said in an interview the increased cost to adjust the rates is needed due to the county currently relying on tax collectors instead of a consolidated collection process.

“We’re a growing county,” she said.

Osche said the county is trying to be fair to the tax collectors.

“They struggle with recruitment and retention,” she said.

Osche said during the meeting a majority of the municipalities produce fewer than 5,000 tax cards.

The last rate change was in 2009 when the county lowered the tax card rate from $4.50 to $3.50.

County solicitor Mike English said the commissioners had to vote on the resolution this week rather than wait for the voting meeting next week due to the pending primary for municipal posts.

There is a Feb. 15 deadline to set rates for the years 2018 through 2021. By establishing the rates in mid-February, tax collectors have time to decide if they want to seek re-election.