Bowen’s small-business background fits the Tax Office role

Dear Editor,

Randi Bowen is the best selection to replace Karen Roach in the Tax Office.

I’d first like to thank Karen Roach for her years of service to our community. She has done an excellent job as Tax Collector and will leave big shoes to fill for the next person who will take over the job. We need to carefully examine the credentials and track record of who we select for that position. That person must have skills that will be transferable to the requirements of this job.

I looked at Randi Bowen’s past experience and found she has what is needed to successfully transition into the position. Randi ran the office of a small business, which required multitasking at a fast pace. She handled scheduling, routing, financial recordkeeping, deposits and expenditures, payroll, and payroll filings in four states, all done weekly in addition to the federal filing. Randi worked with customers handling orders and any other issue that might arise. In addition to all of that, she had to have knowledge of the chemicals her company used, work with suppliers and handle DEP filings and compliance reporting. Her company did have seasonal spikes, so Randi had to develop systems to accommodate the high volume of business that would occur over a short period of time. Randi brought these skills to our community, being the Treasurer of the Croton Falls Community Church where she handles all their financial transactions.

The tax office is run like a small business. There is customer service involved when the taxpayer is requiring more than just a drop point for a check every six months. The tax collector will have to handle an upset taxpayer who did not remit their payment on time but does not want to pay the penalty. This requires a cool head and patience, which comes from years of experience working with customers who had their credit cards declined or are late paying their bill and were assessed a penalty. In fact, Randi has worked in the same business for over 20 years. This demonstrates commitment and the ability to stay on a job no matter how difficult it becomes.

There are many filings with the school district and the county for whom the tax collector receives and disperses funds. Tax bills have to be accurate and sent out on time. Many times, follow up work is required if a bank or trust is responsible for paying the tax levy. With tax bills being due twice a year, this is a hectic seasonal spike in the tax office.

If you look at what Randi has been doing throughout her career, she fits perfectly into this job. A person who handles the challenges of a small business as Randi did would be preferable to a person that came from Corporate America, where their responsibilities are more concentrated.

-Howard Hellwinkel, North Salem