Legal Definitions - town treasurer

A town treasurer is a public official responsible for managing the financial resources of a town. This individual is tasked with safeguarding the town's money, maintaining accurate financial records, and authorizing payments for town expenses in accordance with approved budgets and legal regulations.

Here are some examples illustrating the role of a town treasurer:

• Imagine a town needs to pay for the new snowplow it purchased for the public works department. The town treasurer would be responsible for reviewing the invoice, verifying that the purchase was approved in the budget, and then issuing the payment from the town's general fund to the equipment supplier. This demonstrates their role in disbursing town funds for approved expenses.

• Consider a situation where a town has collected more property taxes than immediately needed for its operating expenses. The town treasurer might decide to invest these surplus funds in a secure, interest-bearing account or low-risk government bonds to generate additional revenue for the town. This illustrates their responsibility for maintaining and growing town funds through prudent financial management.

• Each month, the salaries for all municipal employees—such as police officers, librarians, and administrative staff—must be paid. The town treasurer oversees the payroll process, ensuring that all employees are paid correctly and on time, and that the necessary deductions for taxes and benefits are properly handled. This highlights their critical function in disbursing town funds for personnel costs and maintaining accurate financial records related to these payments.