Plumas County faces long-standing under staffing in its Treasurer-Tax Collector’s office. The Board of Supervisors acted on August 4 to ease the strain by seeking a temporary hire.
They unanimously agreed to ask CalPERS to make an exception for Julie Emerson, a recent retiree from Butte County. Emerson worked there since 1994 as a property tax supervisor and deputy signer. CalPERS rules require a 180-day wait after retirement before rehiring as a retired annuitant. The county wants that period waived to bring Emerson on board quickly.
County Administrative Officer Dan Pargee explained the urgency. Simultaneous staff leaves created a backlog in the department. After the June 2 election, all three staff members were on medical leave, forcing a 24-day closure. Treasurer-Tax Collector Julie White handled operations alone once the office reopened.
Currently, the office has White plus three employees, including Treasurer-Tax Collector Elect Katharine Clift Clubb. The office still lacks enough staff to handle upcoming property tax work. Chair Mimi Hall said catching up without extra help is impossible.
If CalPERS agrees, Emerson would join the team for up to six months, working up to 960 hours yearly. She would earn $39.19 an hour without benefits. Her experience promises immediate relief for the backlog.
The treasurer’s office recently faced criticism after failing to notify some property owners about tax sales. One case led to a $166,900 refund for a mistakenly sold 20-acre parcel near Sloat.
Emerson’s role would fill a critical gap. The county’s request to CalPERS reflects the pressure on this key office to maintain proper cash management and tax accounting during a challenging period.
