Treasurer / Collector

Kristie Shea (elected 2002 – Present)

Office & Mailing Address
P.O. Box 157
8 East Street
Southampton, MA 01073

Telephone, Fax & Email
413-527-4920 phone
413-529-1001 fax
Email: treasurercollector@town.southampton.ma.us

Office Staff
Ann LaBonte, Assistant Collector
Robin Richard, Assistant Treasurer

Meetings
N/A
The Treasurer/Collector’s has after office hours every other Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

General Responsibilities and Duties
The Treasurer/Collector is an elected position with a three year term. The Treasurer/Collector office is responsible for the printing, mailing and collection of all tax bills issued by the Town of Southampton. These include: Motor Vehicle Excise Tax, Boat Excise Tax, Real Estate Tax and Personal Property Tax. The Tax Collector's office issues and maintains a record of Municipal Lien Certificates to be filed at the Registry of Deeds in Northampton.

This office also collects fees and issues all Transfer Station Stickers and bags. (See Transfer Station for further details)

Real Estate and Personal Property tax bills are issued and collected on a quarterly basis. (Tax bills are sent in three mailings) The preliminary bills are mailed at the end of June (two part bill) Q1 are due August 1 and Q2 are due November 1. The actual bill Q3 are mailed 12-31 and are due February 1, the actual bill for Q4 are mailed 3-31 and are due 5-1.

No reminder is sent between quarters. By state law, interest is charged on any and all late payments - even bills that have been lost in the mail or never received due to transfer of ownership. Copies of bills are available in the office if anyone should misplace their tax bill.

The Town Treasurer/Collector receives all money belonging to the Town and expends and accounts for it according to the order of the Town's authorized officers. The Treasurer/Collector performs duties in accordance with the General Laws of Massachusetts as it relates to the management of all Town borrowing and investments; the dispensation of Town scholarship and accounts payable checks; and tax title collections, redemptions or foreclosures.

The Treasurer's Office is responsible for processing paperwork on new, terminating and retiring employees and for the administration of all employee benefits. The Treasurer's Office also handles the production and disbursement of the employee paychecks for every Town and School department.

The Treasurer/Collector issues debt required for authorized short-term and long-term borrowing, and on occasion will issue bonds to raise money for certain projects or expenditures. The Treasurer/Collector also monitors and manages the Town’s bonded debt.

The Treasurer/Collector office is responsible for generating Motor Vehicle Excise Tax bills. Any change of address needs to be reported to the Registry of Motor Vehicle and your Insurance Company as soon as you move.

If applying for abatement please see the Assessors office. Do not wait until after due date to apply for abatement, late charges will still apply.