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Scotland board weighs ending Windham tax-collection contract after reporting gaps
Summary
Scotland officials discussed stopping Windham’s tax-collection services after the town stopped receiving collection reports in November; Treasurer David Zito urged exploring alternatives and said Canterbury has offered to prepare a proposal.
The Scotland Board of Selectmen discussed whether to end the town’s contract with the Town of Windham for tax collection after Treasury staff stopped receiving regular reports from Windham in November.
Treasurer David Zito told the board that tax revenue and collection details have not been made available since November, and he described the Windham Tax Collector office as being “in turmoil,” recommending that the board consider alternative arrangements for collecting Scotland’s taxes. First Selectman Dana Barrow Jr. said he had spoken with Windham Town Manager Robert Zarnetske, who expects to hire a Collector of Revenue within weeks and is not supportive of Windham collecting taxes for other towns.
Board members noted the contractual mechanism: Scotland may cancel the Windham contract with 90 days’ written notice. Barrow said he has been in contact with the Town of Canterbury, which is preparing a written proposal to assume tax-collection services for Scotland. The board agreed to take the matter under advisement and to review Canterbury’s proposal when it is submitted.
The treasurer’s report presented at the meeting showed total current-year tax revenue collections through Dec. 12, 2025 of $2.8 million (57.6% of budget) and back-tax collections of $31,300; Zito warned that December and January totals were “unknown” because Windham had not provided the reports. The board did not take a formal vote to change collection arrangements at the meeting; members directed staff to gather proposals and additional information to inform any decision.
What happens next: the board may receive a formal proposal from Canterbury and can terminate the Windham contract on 90 days’ notice if it chooses to change collectors.
