Treasury, collecting divisions report high collection rates, digital upgrades and postage pressures in FY26 budget briefing

City finance leaders told the Boston City Council Committee on Ways and Means on May 27 that the Treasury Department and the Collecting Division continue to maintain near‑complete collection rates while adding electronic payment options and outreach efforts to reduce delinquencies.

Celia Botten, first assistant collector-treasurer, and Tim McKenzie, interim deputy treasurer, presented organizational responsibilities and FY26 budget recommendations. The administration recommended approximately $2,630,000 for the Treasury Department’s operating budget in FY26 and a $2,134,250 operating recommendation for the Office of Participatory Budgeting (presented separately), with most increases driven by wage benchmarking and higher postage costs.

Botten described the collecting division’s mission and operations: maintaining a high collection rate, assisting taxpayers with payment plans and outreach (including work with Age Strong and the Home Center), operating telewindows and online portals, reconciling daily deposits and managing tax title actions. She reported a FY24 collection rate of…