Mars Borough Council discussed proposed fee increases from the borough tax collector at Monday night's meeting.

There are two suggested rate changes on the table, one of which would need to be approved by amending an ordinance.

The other could be approved by resolution, according to borough solicitor Chris Reese.

The first proposed change is increasing the three-year tax certification fee from a bulk $25 to $15 per year of certification (totaling $45 for the full three years).

A tax certification details the tax movement on a property over the previous one to three years.

It can be used to prove to lenders or foreclosing companies that taxes on a property have been paid.

The fee is charged to the person or entity making the certification request and goes directly to the tax collector.

Renea Pomeroy, tax collector for Mars Borough, explained that revising the ordinance in this way would be more equitable for those seeking certification for only one or two years instead of three.

“Some places only want a year,” Pomeroy said.

Although Pomeroy's suggested increase was $10 per certification year (totaling $30 for the full three years), council decided to pursue the $15-per-certification-year rate.

Pomeroy said this would actually help the borough get ahead of things such as inflation.

“You can only increase these fees once every four years,” Pomeroy said.

As the current borough three-year tax certification fee of $25 is stipulated by ordinance, any change to that cost must be approved as an ordinance amendment.

Reese said the amendment would need to be advertised before being voted on at a council meeting.

The second proposed increase would raise the $10 tax duplicate fee to $15. This could be changed by resolution, according to Reese.

Council voted to allow Reese to advertise an ordinance revision for the tax certification fee, with a vote on the amendment to tentatively take place at the Feb. 15 work session.