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The

Collector

Treasurer

A publication of the Massachusetts Collectors and Treasurers Association

Volume 26 Spring 2013 No.1

MCTA's

Annual Cape

Conference at

Hyannis, June

9 to 12

MCTA’s 64th Annual

Conference on Local Taxation and Finance will be held at the Cape Codder Resort Hotel at Hyannis beginning on Sunday, June 9th. Reservations for the Cape Codder are ongoing till May 11. The Program and Conference Registration form will soon be posted on the MCTA website, www.masscta.com. If you need a hotel registration form, you can call or email the MCTA Office.

The Education Committee has been very busy assembling a well-rounded conference agenda to meet the needs of our Association members. Credit for Re-Certification will again be offered, so please review the program agenda for the courses offered.

Our Program will begin on Monday morning with the Annual meeting of the Association, then the election of Officers followed by a Legislative Report and update from Atty. Steve Roche. John Marple, Senior Economist of TD Bank will then address our members.

On Tuesday morning we will hear from State Treasurer Steven Grossman who will provide an update of the State Treasurer’s Office. The Program throughout the Conference will offer courses featuring various panels on relative

and timely subjects including Proposed changes in employee & retiree health issues, an update on public retirement law and issues and more.

New Collectors and

New Treasurers School

on May 8

th

in Dudley

We have many newcomers entering the profession every year, and we know that the degree of expertise and knowledge demanded of the Treasurer and the Collector is increasing daily. For newcomers especially, MCTA’s New Collectors and New Treasurers School represents the first step in your formal learning as a Collector or Treasurer. You will find this day to be a good orientation for the Association’s Annual School at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst in August, and to our educational program that leads to designation as a Certified Municipal Collector or Certified Municipal Treasurer.

All new Collectors, Municipal Treasurers and District Treasurers are urged to attend. Collectors attending will receive Annual School credit for Course No. 160, Duties & Responsibilities of the Collector. Treasurers attending will receive Annual School credit for Course No. 101, Duties & Responsibilities of the Treasurer. Officially appointed assistants are welcome, but clerical staff are not permitted to attend. The Association conducts a separate School Program for Staff in September.

A copy of the Program can be accessed at MCTA’s web site,

www.masscta.com, with directions to

the Municipal Building in Dudley and a registration form. The registration fee of $25.00 includes a continental breakfast on arrival, all classroom material and lunch.

_____________________

MCTA Spring Meeting in

Sterling…great turnout

The Association’s Spring Meeting was held at the Sterling National County Club in Sterling, MA. We had over 200 members attending. State Auditor Suzanne Bump opened the Spring Meeting with an update of the duties and responsibilities of the State Auditors Office. Auditor Bump was followed by John Sullivan, VP, Federated Investors who addressed the members on an update of the MMDT program offered through the State Treasurer’s Office. Concluding the program was Dan Sullivan, CPA, from Sullivan & Rogers, who addressed the members on Internal Policy & Control and Fraud Mitigation. Thanks to UniBank for hosting the breakfast and coffee break.

43rd Annual School at

Umass in Amherst, August

13 – 16

Make your plans to attend the Annual School. Certifed Track Courses will be offered on Tuesday and Wednesday. Examinations will

be held on Friday. In 2011, the

Education Committee proposed a set of new Required Courses that were added to the certified track for Collectors and Treasurers. Anyone planning to take the exam in 2013 must take the new required courses.

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The President’s Page

By

Paul Keating, Jr.

Collector & Treasurer Town of Wayland

MCTA President’s Report

Well, spring is finally here, we hope! It was a long winter and it seems like forever since the last time we met. It was great to see so many friends at our meeting recently at the Sterling Country Club. I would like to thank UniBank for their sponsorship of the continental breakfast and coffee break. The next few months are a busy time for the Association. While most members were in hibernation, the Education and Legislative Committees were busy with their respective duties. The Education Committee put together the program for our Spring meeting. Next on the agenda is New Collectors and Treasurers day on May 8th at Dudley Town Hall. Following that is State House day on May 15th. Right after that is our Annual Cape Cod Conference at the Cape Codder in Hyannis.

recently appointed or elected to their position in the last year. It is a great opportunity and start to interact and learn about the duties and responsibilities of their position and the MCTA Association.

The programs are all set for these meetings and I think the Committee

The programs are all set for these meetings and I think the Committee has done an excellent job with what seems to be an exciting and educational experience. The Legislative Committee submitted its proposals and a few of the bills have had hearings already. We’ll keep our fingers crossed that a few of them get passed!

This year has flown by for me as President of the Association. It has been relatively stress free and for that I thank all the members of the E-Board and members of the Education and Legislative Committees. As President I attended each of these meetings and I found that members made an earnest effort to attend each meeting and when there really concentrated on coming up with topics that would be timely, educational and of interest to as many of our Associates as possible. In closing, I want to thank all the members of the various Committees for their dedication and hard work. I am really grateful for your participation. I want to thank Mike and Diane for all their hard work. For those of you who may not know Mike recently had his hip replaced and once home from rehab started right in where he left off working from home till he was able to drive again. I would also like to thank our Associate and Business members who support us in a variety of ways. I would also like to thank the members of the Association for allowing me the privilege of being your president this year. It has been a wonderful experience. I look forward to seeing many of you at the Cape Cod Conference.

Paul

Education

Committee Report

By First V-P Rich Carmignani. Collector & Treasurer, Town of Dudley

Spring is here and while the Red Sox sell-out streak is over, it is still a great time to be a fan. It’s great to be an MCTA member too. This time of the year is the high point of the educational calendar. Please take some time and pencil in these events

on your planner. Your smartphone would work well also.

The MCTA Spring Meeting was held on Wednesday April 10th at the Sterling National Country Club in Sterling. Suzanne Bump, State Auditor, gave a wonderful presentation on how her office’s role is expanding to address changes in the Commonwealth. John Sullivan from Federated Investors presented an overview of the MMDT and how the first month of the roll out had gone. Dan Sullivan partner of Rogers and Sullivan finished the morning with an internal control and fraud mitigation overview. The day was a wealth of information.

The MCTA has sent out the applications to all of the offices in the

state regarding New

Collectors/Treasurers Day. Classes will be held on May 8th at the Dudley Municipal Complex in Dudley. This orientation program was created to allow those new members of our association to receive some specialized classroom time from some key faculty members. All of the newly elected and appointed Treasurers and Collectors are invited to attend.

(Con’t on page 3)

State House Day May 15

All MCTA members are welcome to join the Association at the State House at the Great Hall for a day of visiting State Legislators and seek support for our Legislative Package. A State House tour will follow the luncheon. Go to www.masscta.com to register for this event.

The Collector-Treasurer

Published quarterly by the Massachusetts Collectors and Treasurers Association, 510 King Street, Littleton, Massachusetts 01460

President Paul Keating, Jr 1st

Vice President Rich Carmignani 2nd

Vice President Tom Florence Treasurer Ellen Guerin

Secretary Teresa DeSilva

Exec Director Mike Hanlon

Editor Mike Hanlon

Assoc. Editor Diane O’Donnell Tel (978) 952-6644 Fax (978) 952-6655

E-Mail MassCTA@gmail.com

Web Site www.masscta.com Association Calendar- 2013

May 8, 2013 New Coll/Treas Day Dudley Municipal Bld Dudley, MA

May 15, 2013 State House Day Boston, MA

May 31, 2013 PACT Form Deadline Must be postmarked

by May 31

June 9 -12, 2013 64th Annual Cape Cod Conference Cape Codder Hotel

Hyannis, MA

Aug 13-16, 2013 43th Annual School University of Mass. Amherst, MA

Sept.11 & 25, ‘13 Annual Staff School Town of Dudley Municipal Bld Dudley, MA

Nov. 13, 2013 Fall/Holiday Meeting Pleasant Valley CC, Sutton, MA

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3

Education Committee – Con’t

State House Day will be held on May 15th. In January of 2013, the Legislative Committee filed its Legislative package for the upcoming session. Steve Roche and Michelle DeNisco of the Victory Group have done their homework and organized many effective legislators to sponsor our bills. It is your turn to advocate for our package by reaching out to your State Representative and Senator asking for a favorable vote on these bills. Our flyer noting times and an agenda will be sent shortly. Information on a group bus will be included as well.

Just a reminder for all of the Treasurers and Collectors who have not yet been certified, your Preliminary Application for Certification Test (PACT) is due on May 31st. Any questions or concerns need to be addressed right now and not in August. You may contact the MCTA office for additional information.

The final part of this season’s education calendar is our Annual Conference on Taxation will be held from June 9th to June 12th at the Cape Codder Resort and Hotel in Hyannis. Last year’s program boasted a strong contingent from the Department of Revenue, the State Treasurer’s Office, MSBA and Technologies Office. This was in addition to the many CPA’s, MBA’s and Lawyers who also took time teach classes. We see this year’s program to be just as informative. Room reservation forms are on the MCTA website. Registration forms and schedule of events will be forthcoming.

The remainder of the Educational calendar includes the Annual School for the MCTA will be held from August 13th to 16th at the University of Massachusetts. It continues with Staff School being held at the Dudley Municipal Complex on September 11th and 25th. The Fall/Holiday meeting held in November at the Pleasant Valley Country Club in Sutton will complete the rest of our plans. The next eight months are filled with great opportunities to learn about your profession and how technology and

legislation have affected it. Please make time and join us.

.

Rich

New Collectors and

Treasurers Day will be

held on May 8

th.

Classes are for those Collectors and

Treasurers, or Assistants that are new to the office within the last year. Registrations for this event have been sent out, and the classes will be held at the Dudley Town Hall. Please check the MCTA web site for information and registration at www.masscta.com.

Comings - - -

And Goings - - -

Stephanie L’Etalien is the new

Treasurer/Collector in the Town of Hopedale, replacing Barbara Walls.

William Jennings is the new Treasurer

in the Town of Sandwich, replacing Craig Mayen.

Allen L. Kidston is the new Treasurer in

the Town of Goshen, replacing Kristine Bissell.

Scott Curtis is the new Treasurer/Collector in the Town of Hanover, replacing Darleen Sullivan.

Maria Arias is the new Treasurer/Collector in the City of Lawrence, replacing Deborah Nowicki. Donna Flagg is the new Treasurer in the Town of Rowe, replacing Heidi Cousineau.

Legislative

Committee Report

By Second V-P Tom Florence

Collector & Treasurer, Town of East Longmeadow

Thank you to all who attended our Spring Conference in Sterling. The program was certainly educational and informative.

As chairman of the Legislative Committee this year, I have seen firsthand the process of how our legislation works from the initial ideas from each of our Treasurers and Collectors when we pass our new proposed legislation at Amherst to recently attending legislative hearings with the Joint Committee on Revenue at the State House on the progress of moving our House/Senate bills favorably forward. It has been a great experience and eye opener.

All five bills and the new proposed legislation confirmed by our membership was either filed, re-issued or newly filed before the filing deadline of January 18th. All bills have lead sponsors and co-sponsors. Thanks to all who contacted your legislators for sponsorship. Briefly, the bills we submitted with their newly assigned bill number and status are as follows:

SENATE BILL #1830 (REFILE) - An Act Relative to Investments Held by Cities and Towns:

Lead Sponsor- Rep. Vinny deMacedeo; MCTA Point Person-Gerry Lane, Dover

This proposal would allow for a new clause permitting cities and towns to invest funds using the Prudent Investor Rule established in MGL Chapter 203C. Status: Filed in the House and Referred to Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government.

HOUSE BILL #2529 (REFILE) - An Act Relating to the Collection of Personal Property Taxes:

Lead Sponsor-Rep. Thomas Conroy; MCTA Point Person-Rich Carmignani of Dudley

This proposal would authorize municipal Collectors to perfect a security interest in the Personal Property of delinquent taxpayer. This proposal would create a process for personal property similar to the lien process for real property.

Status: Filed in the House and

Referred to Joint Committee in Revenue. Hearing took place April 2nd with MCTA representation and documentation to speak in favor of this bill.

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HOUSE BILL #991 (REDRAFT/REFILE) - An Act Relative to the Safety of Public Deposits:

Lead Sponsor-Rep. Thomas Stanley; MCTA Point Person-Tess Summers of Acton-Boxborough RSD

This proposal would provide for a special commission to determine the best way to protect public deposits. Massachusetts needs a process to safeguard public deposits so losses incurred by municipalities in the 1990’s are not repeated. Status: Filed in the House and Referred to Joint Committee on Financial Services.

HOUSE BILL #1822 (REFILE) - An Act Relative to Municipal Use of Insurance Proceeds:

Lead Sponsor-Rep. James Cantwell; MCTA Point Person-Nancy Holt of Marshfield

This proposal would raise the current limit municipalities may spend from insurance proceeds without legislative body approval from $20,000 to $150,000. Status: Filed in the House and referred to Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government.

HOUSE BILL #2597 (REFILE) - An Act Relative to the Property Tax Deferral Program:

Lead Sponsor-Rep. Brad Hill; MCTA Point Person-Virginia Boutchie of Essex

This proposal would amend the tax deferral act relative to holders of real property reducing the age requirement from sixty five to sixty and valuation assessment from $40,000 to $62,000. Status: Filed in the House and Referred to Joint Committee on Revenue.

Our new proposed Legislation successfully moved forward and filed:

HOUSE BILL 2638: An Act Relative to Condo Tax Liens

Lead Sponsor-Rep. Robert Koczera; MCTA Point Person-Barbara Auger of Milford

This proposal would prohibit a city or town to be deemed to receive any benefit prior to the foreclosure of its tax title unless it occupies or collects rent from such a property as described herein. Status: Filed in the

House and Referred to Joint Committee on Revenue.

SENATE BILL 961: An Act Relative to Collectors and Treasurers

Lead Sponsor-Senator Richard Moore; MCTA Point Person-Michelle Hill of Southwick

This proposal would authorize any city or town acting through its board of selectman or city council or mayor with the approval of the city council to create employment contracts for their assessors, treasurers, and collectors. Status: Filed in the Senate and Referred to the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government.

HOUSE BILL 2701: An Act Relative to Chapter Land Requirements

Lead Sponsor-Rep. George Peterson; MCTA Point Person-Cheryl Ouilette of Douglas

This proposal would require holders of so-called “Chapter Lands” to be current or remain current in paying their property taxes in order to maintain their reduced tax status. Under the Massachusetts General Laws, the following types of property are taxed at lower rates: Forest Lands and Forest Products – MGL Chapter 61, Section 3; Agricultural and Horticultural Land – MGL Chapter 61A, Section 6; Recreational Land – MGL Chapter 61B, Section 6. This legislation will ensure that property taxes on Chapter Land are paid in a timely fashion. Status: Filed in the House and Referred to the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government.

SENATE BILL 926: An Act Relative to Reviewing Chapter 40 § 57; Licenses and Permits

Lead Sponsor-Senator Gale Candaras; MCTA Point Person-David LaPlante of Leominster

Under current state law, municipalities must wait at least a year before denying local permits or licenses for property owners who have not paid their taxes for twelve months. This proposal would reduce the time frame to six months as an incentive for delinquent tax payers to stay current. Status: Filed and Reported favorably by Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government.

SENATE BILL 934: An Act Relative to Tax Title Revolving Funds

Lead Sponsor-Senator Kenneth Donnelly; MCTA Point Person-Jack Clark of Billerica

This proposal would provide Massachusetts municipalities the statutory authority to establish a revolving fund into which legal and administrative fees and charges recovered by a municipality in the course of tax/municipal assessment collection legal proceedings may be deposited, rather than having said fees and charges paid directly into the general fund pursuant to G.L c.44 §53. Once funded, such a revolving fund would facilitate the prosecution of municipal collection actions by providing a dedicated source of funding for these actions from Treasurer/Collector departmental receipts; thus, minimizing or eliminating the need for regular appropriations within annual departmental budgets for this purpose. Status: Filed in the Senate and Referred to the Joint Committee on Revenue.

SENATE BILL 1310: An Act Relative to Motor Vehicles Excise Percentages

Lead Sponsor-Senator Gale Candaras; MCTA Point Person-Ellen McKay of Shutesbury

This proposal would provide a long overdue update to the assessment of taxes on motor vehicles. The MCTA believes that the current tax table should be updated to more accurately reflect the depreciation of modern vehicles. Status: Filed in the Senate and Referred to the Joint Committee on Revenue.

HOUSE BILL 2371: An Act Relative to Compensation for Assistants

Lead Sponsor-Rep. Stephen Kulik; MCTA Point Person-Gerry Lane of Dover

State law currently provides a stipend for municipal collectors and treasurers who obtain and maintain certification by the MCTA for their offices. The stipend, which is subject to local acceptance, is 10% of the officers’ compensation, up to $1000. This proposal would provide the same type of financial incentive for assistant collectors and assistant treasurers. The payment of any such stipend would be subject to local

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5 acceptance. A stipend of 5% of

compensation, up to $500, is proposed for assistant collectors and treasurers who obtain and maintain MCTA certification. Status: Filed in the House and Referred to the Joint Committee on Public Service.

Many thanks to our members who provided testimonials and supporting documents in speaking against Senate Bill 1402, an Act Providing Taxpayers a Hearing at the Appellate Tax Board. This would deem a US post mark to be the date of delivery for any payment for taxes delivered to the collector. It would force collectors to keep and maintain these envelopes as permanent records; a task which effects lockbox operations, storage requirements and municipal labor costs. Thanks to Joanne Savignac from Westborough for her participation in speaking against this at the hearing with the Joint Committee on Revenue. We will keep the Association updated on the status of this bill.

The Legislative Committee still has some openings. We would like to welcome our newest member, old friend Thomas O’Brien, the current County Treasurer for Plymouth County. If any certified Treasurers or Collectors has interest in volunteering for the Legislative Committee and contribute their ideas to help and advocate for our legislation please email mcta@gmail.com. If you have any legislative proposals that may be beneficial please forward your draft

proposal to me at

tflorence@eastlongmeadowma.gov, or to the MCTA office at masscta@gmail.com.

If you have not reached out to your State Representative and Senator, please try to it now. The Massachusetts Legislative Home page is easy to find and simply type the name of your legislator to get all their respective contact information. Arrange for a time to meet with him or her. You will find that they will make time for a municipal employee. An email or a cup of coffee on a regular basis is a great tool to keep a dialogue open with your legislators.

You do make a difference and your voice counts. If you have not already, please take the time to keep in touch or reconnect with them.

State House Day is Wednesday, May 15th and this would also be a great way to get together with your legislators in Boston and to educate them and ask for their support on our slate of current legislation which can be found on our website.

I want to thank the members of the Legislative Committee as well as our lobbyist Steve Roche and his staff from the Victory Group for their input and continued efforts. I have seen up close how they support us and deal with the unpredictable happenings at the State House and reporting back the status of each bill’s process. His efforts greatly benefit the Association. We hope to see as many of you as possible for State House Day and the upcoming summer conference at the Cape

Tom

Continued from page one

43th Annual School

The new Required Courses for Treasurers are: Course No.

107-Tax Title and Interest Calculation, Course No. 401-Tax Rate Re-Cap, Free Cash, Cherry Sheet. The New

Required Courses for Collectors are: Course No.102-Cash Control

Procedures, Course No 361-Assessing Procedures, Course No. 401-Tax Rate Re-Cap, Free Cash, Cherry Sheet, and Course No. 775-Land of Low Value.

If you are planning to take the Examination, you must send your PACT Application to MCTA, postmarked no later than May 31

Again, if you are planning to take the Examination in 2013, you must take these new required courses.

The Annual School will continue to offer New Student Orientation on Tuesday, along with a Preliminary

Exam Review. On Wednesday the General Assembly and the Annual Legislative Program will be offered as well as the Review of New Legislation (Course 201).

News From Beacon Hill

By Atty. Steve Roche

MCTA Legislative Agent sroche@thevictorygroup.org

FY 2014 STATE BUDGET

The FY2014 state budget debate

officially kicked off on January

23

rd

when Governor Patrick filed

his budget plan; see House 1. As

you know, the Governor filed a

very aggressive budget that

included a $1 billion increase in

the state income tax rate and

substantial increases in funding

for

higher

education,

early

education, and transportation.

It was obvious early on that there

was no appetite in the House and

Senate for an increase in the

income

tax

rate

and

the

accompanying reduction in the

state’s sales tax rate from 6.25%

to 4.5%.

The House and Senate decided

to take a different approach and

separated

the

tax

and

transportation issues from the

state budget. Each chamber has

subsequently approved its own

version of legislation to increase

taxes

to

fund

needed

transportation costs. There is

currently

a

“conference

committee” meeting to develop a

compromise package to send to

the Governor. The House plan

would raise $500 million while the

Senate’s version would raise

$800 million.

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The House has since taken up

and approved its version of a

FY2014 state budget; see House

3401. The House budget debate

stretched over just 3 long days

and nights and was forwarded to

the Senate for action. One of the

interesting

provisions

would

basically double the thresholds

for procurements.

The Senate budget plan is

expected to be released on May

15

th

, the same day as the MCTA’s

“Day on the Hill.” We expect the

Senate budget debate to begin

on May 21

st

and conclude before

Memorial Day Weekend.

MCTA 2013-2014 LEGISLATIVE

PACKAGE

The new House and Senate

Leadership teams have been

announced with a number of

changes in committee chairs. Our

main

committees

of

interest

remain: Revenue, Municipalities

&

Regional

Government,

Financial

Services,

Public

Service, and the House & Senate

budget committees.

As you will see in Tom Florence’s

column, the MCTA Legislative

Committee is keeping busy. We

have already had a few of the

MCTA proposals heard by the

Revenue

Committee

(House

2529 and House 2701) and our

public deposits bill (House 991)

will be heard the day before the

Day on the Hill.

As you might guess, we are

continuously

identifying

and

tracking

other

legislative

proposals

that

might

concern/affect

collectors

and

treasurers beyond the MCTA

Legislative Agenda; we track

dozens of bills of interest to the

MCTA every year.

MCTA 2013 DAY ON THE HILL

As indicated above, the Senate

FY2014 budget may be released

the same day as our State House

event. I have also learned that a

formal House session is also

planned for May 15

th

. That means

lots of legislators and staff should

be in the building that day.

I want to add my voice to the

chorus urging you and your staff

to attend. Just think of how many

budgets and bills legislators have

to consider

– thousands of them

each session – and how hard it is

to be heard with numerous

groups fighting for their attention.

This is where you come in

– do

not underestimate the clout that

you have as an elected or

appointed

municipal

official.

Legislators

care

about

what

happens in their districts; as local

leaders they want you to like

them, say good things about

them, and will give you more

attention than us lowly lobbyists

(ha-ha).

So, please participate in this

year’s Day on the Hill if you

can.

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