In Brief
[naviga:h3]Local bulldozer operator wins award[/naviga:h3]
EVANS CITY — Local bulldozer operator Robert Cupec of Slippery Rock received the 2017 Operator of the Year Award from Seneca Landfill, where he has been employed for the last 24 years.
Cupec earned the award through his excellence in safety, work ethic, customer service and teamwork.
Winning the local award automatically nominated him for Operator of the Year through the National Waste & Recycling Association.
[naviga:h3]Experts say law prevents prepaying state taxes[/naviga:h3]
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania taxpayers hoping to avoid higher rates next year by paying taxes before 2017 ends this weekend appear to be out of luck.
Experts say a 1945 state law prevents such prepayment.
Taxpayers in other states are hoping to avoid higher taxes imposed as part of an overhaul signed last week by President Donald Trump.
The new law limits to $10,000 how much people can deduct from their federal taxes for state and local tax payments.
Dauphin County Treasurer Janis Creason tells PennLive.com tax collectors are prevented by law from collecting taxes for a new year before the old one's settled, and that won't happen until mid-January.
She said people normally want to delay paying taxes, not get them in ahead of time.
Officials said about 10 people have been calling the Lancaster County treasurer's office each day to ask about prepayment.
The Pennsylvania State Tax Collectors' Association said their members have been inundated, and the group sent its members a memo on the topic.
“Many of you have been receiving phone calls from taxpayers asking if they can prepay their 2018 real estate taxes,” the memo said. “In Pennsylvania, however, that is expressly prohibited by statute and collectors may not collect any taxes as prepayment for 2018.”
From staff and wire reports
<h3>Local driver wins award</h3>MARS — Local driver Joseph Brown III of Renfrew received the 2017 Driver of the Year Award from Vogel Disposal Service.Brown, an employee for 33 years, is a roll-off driver honored for excellence in safety, work ethic, customer service and compliance with Department of Transportation regulations.A U.S. Army veteran and lifelong county resident, his award has automatically nominated him for Driver of the Year through the National Waste & Recycling Association.
