Pittsburgh Controller Michael Lamb recommended yesterday that the city follow Allegheny County's lead and hire private firms to collect delinquent property taxes.

Mr. Lamb said in a press release that the city and school district could probably collect $10 million or more a year using procedures outlined in a 2003 state law. In 3¹/₂ years, the county collected $50 million using Jordan Tax Service as servicer and Goehring, Rutter and Boehm as legal counsel, he said.

He suggested that it would be efficient for the city to use the same firms.

City Council would likely have to approve any such arrangement, which would include penalties and interest payable to the collection firms, Deputy Controller Doug Anderson said. The city and school district would get all of the taxes due, he added.