PERRYVILLE VOTERS FACE A LONE MUNICIPAL ISSUE

PERRYVILLE -- Voters in Perryville will decide Tuesday if the position of city collector should be an appointed instead of elected office.

The position is currently an elected one. City officials said money could be saved by allowing the city collector to be an appointed position.

"We feel the collector's office no longer warrants a full-time position," said Perryville Mayor Robert Miget. "Computerization has drastically reduced the workload."

Miget said if voters approve the change, he and members of the city's Board of Aldermen will appoint a current city employee to perform the duties of the city collector. Part-time help would be a possibility during tax season, he said.

"It's just a more economical approach to tax collections," he said.

The current city collector is Ruth Heck. Miget said Heck has told city officials she plans to retire soon. Her current annual salary is about $15,000, he said.

The status of the city collector position is the only city issue on Tuesday's ballot.