16 Pa.C.S. Ch. 147

in effect

16 Pa.C.S. § 14701 Fees belonging to county.

(a) General rule.--Except as provided under law, fees that an elected or appointed county officer is legally authorized, required or entitled to charge or receive belong to the county. (b) Collection and receipt.--Each county officer shall exact, collect and receive all fees to and for the use of the county, except taxes and fees as are levied by the Commonwealth, which shall be to and for the use of the Commonwealth. (c) Use.--No county officer shall use fees received for official services for any purpose except for the use of the county or the Commonwealth.

16 Pa.C.S. § 14702 System of accounts and fees paid to county treasurer.

(a) System of accounts.--Each county officer receiving fees shall keep a system of accounts, the form of which shall be prescribed by the controller or, if that office does not exist, by the county auditors, on which entry shall be made of all the money received for fees and of all money earned and chargeable upon the county, specifying the day and date, the title of the case, if applicable, for what service and from whom received. (b) Duties of officer.--At the times designated by resolution of the county commissioners but not later than the 10th day of each month, each officer shall: (1) Pay to the county treasurer all fees received for each designated period. Duplicate receipts shall be taken, one of which the treasurer shall deposit with the county controller or the chief clerk if the office of controller does not exist. (2) Deposit with the county controller or, in counties without a controller, with the county auditors a transcript, in detail, of the officer's system of accounts for the preceding month. The officer shall make oath or affirmation before the county controller or the county auditors if the office of controller does not exist that the transcript contains a true and correct list of all the fees received, earned or chargeable upon the county for services rendered in the office, either by the officer, deputies or clerks, during the preceding month that the fees were severally charged and collected at regular rates and that the officer has not received and is not to receive, for any official services or duty, any other fees than those entered on the transcript. (c) Duties of county controller or county auditor.--The county controller, or the county auditors in counties without a controller, shall receive, audit and verify the returns for the preceding month and charge the county treasurer with the money for fees paid in. (d) Fees for another office.--If fees are paid to an office for services rendered or to be rendered by another office, the officer receiving the fees shall specify the fees on the account book and on the transcript reflecting the office to which the fees are due. Cross References. Section 14702 is referred to in section 14707 of this title.

16 Pa.C.S. § 14703 Penalty for receiving gratuities or percentages.

(a) Prohibited conduct.--An officer under this subchapter may not: (1) Receive or stipulate to receive, from a deputy, clerk or any person awarded a contract, money as percentage on the salaries of the deputy or clerk or on the amounts or profits of the contract or money as compensation for making the appointment or contract. (2) Neglect to render the accounts or to pay over the money received for fees as required by this subchapter. (3) Willfully neglect to make proper entry in the book required to be kept. (4) Willfully neglect to charge the fees allowed by law for any official services. (5) Take any fees for the officer's own use. (6) Fail to comply with any of the provisions of this subchapter. (7) Neglect to discharge any of the duties imposed on the office. (b) Penalty.--A violation of subsection (a) shall be deemed a misdemeanor in office, and, in addition to other applicable penalties, the officer shall, upon conviction, refund the money unlawfully received and shall be deemed incapable of holding the office.

16 Pa.C.S. § 14704 False swearing to county accounts, bills or transcripts.

(a) Perjury.--A county officer under this subchapter or another individual who willfully swears or affirms falsely as to the accuracy of an account, transcript or bill required in this subchapter or in making an affidavit in reference to the account, transcript or bill, commits perjury and, upon conviction, shall be liable to the punishment prescribed by law for perjury. (b) Subornation of perjury.--An individual who procures another individual to swear or affirm falsely in verifying any account, transcript or bill, or in making an affidavit in reference to the account, transcript or bill, commits subornation of perjury and, upon conviction, shall be liable to the punishment prescribed by law for that offense.

16 Pa.C.S. § 14705 Officers to be paid salaries.

Each county officer and their deputies and clerks shall be paid for services rendered by fixed and specific salaries as follows: (1) The salaries of each officer, deputy and clerk shall be paid out of the treasury of the county which the officer, deputy or clerk serve to the extent that the fees collected and paid in by each officer respectively or earned if fees are chargeable upon the county treasury, except as provided in section 14708 (relating to payment of certain officers). (2) The salaries shall be paid weekly, biweekly, semimonthly or monthly during the month in which the services were rendered, at the discretion of the county commissioners. (3) A voucher check or warrant may not be drawn for the payment of an officer, deputy or clerk who has not filed the receipt and transcript for the month as provided under this subchapter.

16 Pa.C.S. § 14707 Monthly returns.

(a) Separate returns and payment.--Each county officer shall make a separate return to the Department of Revenue of all taxes or fees collected or earned for the Commonwealth by the officer, if any, at the same time that monthly returns are made under section 14702 (relating to system of accounts and fees paid to county treasurer). The taxes, fees and other amounts due to the Commonwealth shall be paid over as required, but not more often than monthly, unless specifically provided by law or regulation. (b) Commissions.--All commissions on the collection of taxes and fees for the Commonwealth shall be deemed and taken as part of the regular fees of the county officer collecting and shall be accounted for accordingly. (c) Applicability of section.--This section applies only to the reporting and payment of any taxes or fees and to the treatment of commissions as are not otherwise provided for by law.

16 Pa.C.S. § 14708 Payment of certain officers.

The following shall apply: (1) The following individuals shall be paid weekly, biweekly, semimonthly or monthly, at the discretion of the county commissioners: (i) The county solicitor. (ii) County prison warden. (iii) County commissioners. (iv) County controller. (v) County surveyor or engineer. (vi) County detectives. (vii) County treasurer. (viii) Interpreter of courts. (ix) District attorney and assistants of the district attorney. (x) In counties of the sixth, seventh and eighth class, all county officers for whom a salary is fixed by law and the deputies, clerks and employees of their respective offices. (2) The county officers listed under paragraph (1) shall be paid the full amount allowed under law, but all fees and emoluments that may accrue by virtue of an office shall be paid by the officer or employee to the county treasurer as directed by law, and all other officers shall be paid the amounts assigned in accordance with this subchapter. Cross References. Section 14708 is referred to in section 14705 of this title.

16 Pa.C.S. § 14709 Salaries in lieu of fees.

Except to the extent this section may be inconsistent with any other express provision of this part, the salaries fixed and provided by law for county officers shall be in lieu of money, fees, perquisites or mileage expenses and other allowances received or allowed to any officer. All money, fees, perquisites or mileage expenses and other allowances, not governed by the exceptions, shall belong to the county and shall be paid into the county treasury, except if required to be paid to the Commonwealth in the manner provided by this subchapter for fees.

16 Pa.C.S. § 14710 Rights of action and remedies for collection of fees.

All rights of action and all other remedies granted or extended to a salaried county officer under this subchapter for the collection of the officer's respective fees are extended and shall inure to the benefit of counties for the collection of all fees and costs that may accrue to counties under the provisions of this subchapter.

16 Pa.C.S. § 14720 Salaries and compensation.

The salaries and compensation of county officers shall be as provided under law. The salaries and compensation of all appointed officers and employees who are paid from the county treasury shall be fixed by the salary board established under section 14722 (relating to salary boards). The board of county commissioners shall have the sole power and responsibility to represent judges of the court of common pleas in proceedings before the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board or collective bargaining negotiations involving employees paid from the county treasury, the county and all elected or appointed county officers having employment powers over the affected employees. The powers authorized by the county commissioners under this section shall not affect the hiring, discharging and supervising rights and obligations with respect to employees as may be vested in the judges or other county officers.

16 Pa.C.S. § 14721 Fees.

(a) General rule.--A county officer shall charge and collect the fees, mileage and emoluments of the office for the officer's own use or for the use of the county, as provided by law. (b) Payment of fees.--Fees, mileage and emoluments shall be paid to the county treasurer. (c) Timing of payment.--Fees, mileage and emoluments shall be paid on or before the 10th day of each month unless otherwise required.

16 Pa.C.S. § 14722 Salary boards.

A salary board is created in each county. The following apply: (1) The salary board shall consist of the three individual members of the county commissioners and: (i) the county controller; or (ii) for counties without a controller, the county treasurer. (2) The chairperson of the county commissioners shall be chairperson of the salary board. (3) The county controller or county treasurer, as the case may be, shall be secretary of the board. (4) The salary board shall meet and organize on the first Monday of January of each year. Cross References. Section 14722 is referred to in section 14720 of this title.

16 Pa.C.S. § 14723 Number and compensation of officers, deputies, assistants, clerks and employees and revisions of salary schedules.

(a) Setting numbers and compensation.--The following apply: (1) At each annual meeting, the salary board, subject to limitations imposed by law, shall fix the compensation of each appointed county officer and the number and compensation of the following who are paid from the county treasury: (i) all deputies, assistants, clerks and other individuals whose compensation is paid out of the county treasury, except employees of county officers who are paid by fees and not by salary; (ii) all court criers, tipstaves and other court employees; and (iii) all officers, clerks, stenographers and employees appointed by the judges of a court. (2) Between annual salary board meetings as required by a judge, county officer or executive head of a separate board, commission or division whose deputies', assistants', clerks' and employees' numbers or compensation is sought to be fixed, the board shall meet and consider and shall fix and determine the numbers and compensation. (3) All salaries fixed under this part shall be paid out of the county treasury in the manner provided by law. (b) Effect of section.-- (1) Upon action by the salary board under subsection (a), the number and compensation of all the officers, deputies, assistants, clerks and individuals are repealed. (2) If a salary board fails to fix the number or compensation of an officer, deputy, assistant, clerk or other employee as required under this section, the number and compensation shall continue, as fixed by or in accordance with law with the same effect as though the number and compensation had been fixed by the salary board, but the salary board may fix any number or compensation at a later time and with similar effect. Cross References. Section 14723 is referred to in sections 13705, 13911 of this title.

16 Pa.C.S. § 14725 Procedure and action of salary board.

(a) Attendance by officer or executive head.--Except as otherwise provided in this part, when the salary board considers the number or salaries of the deputies or other employees of a county office or agency, the officer or the executive head of the agency shall sit as a member of the board until the matter affecting the office or agency is resolved. (b) Attendance by president judge.--When the board considers the number or salaries of court employees, the president judge of the court shall sit as a member of the board until the matter affecting the court criers, tipstaves or employees of the court is resolved. (c) Attendance by certain judges.-- (1) When the board considers the number or salaries of the officers or employees appointed by a judge of a court, the judge shall sit as a member of the board until the matter affecting the judge's appointees is resolved. (2) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, in counties of the second class A, when the board considers the number or salaries of the employees of the prison board, the president judge of the court of common pleas shall sit as a member of the board, and the board shall fix the number and salaries of the employees. (d) Majority decision and minute book.--The following apply: (1) The decision of a majority of members of the salary board shall govern. (2) Each salary board shall keep a correct minute book of the board's proceedings in all cases heard and determined. The minute book shall be a public record.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=HTM&ttl=16Fetched: 10/16/2026