Tax collector reports strong collections, outlines new bank-execution tool for delinquent businesses

The town's tax collector reported that the community has "collected just over $102.5 million," leaving under $400,000 to meet this year's budgeted target, and asked the board to approve the tax collector's proposed FY27 budget.

The collector explained that most of the budget increases in his department are tied to operational items moved from finance into the tax office (receipt paper, validator ribbons and printer toner). He defended the office's contract with Quality Data Services (QDS), saying QDS has a broader service offering and in-house software that allows faster changes than smaller competitors. "QDS is just a more robust company in my opinion," he said.

Board members pressed on whether the town had done a formal bid between QDS and the smaller vendor Gemini. The collector said the town has not run a recent RFP and offered to supply a multi-year cost comparison at the next meeting.

On delinquent accounts, the collector described new bank-execution warrants for business personal property accounts implemented late last year: the town sends warrants to banks where problem accounts might have funds and the banks respond whether they hold accounts; warrants can place holds and trigger partial or full remittance to the town. He said the approach has already targeted multiple business accounts, including one owing "in excess of $60,000." He emphasized the tool is focused on business personal property accounts that have been delinquent for multiple years rather than routine single-year delinquencies.

Board members asked for more historic data on foreclosure and pending matters and the collector agreed to provide multi-year trend spreadsheets so the board can track how many files were pending in prior years versus now. The board approved the tax collector budget as presented.