Dear editor:
(In response to, ‘Since when did we move to Detroit? I don’t remember going there,? The Citizen, July 19 page 7):
This process was highly recommended by the township auditors giving the township better internal control. This also gets the money invested immediately making the township more revenue. By following this procedure, it eliminates handling of the tax payments by the Ortonville Post Office, to the clerk’s office then to the treasurer’s office. Who then records it and takes it to the bank for deposit at the local branch, and then it is forwarded to the main branch in Detroit. Mailing directly to the main branch saves all this handling time and cost, plus reduces the possibility of something being misplaced by the handling. It is ‘safer? in that the treasurer has fewer funds on hand in his/her possession while making the bank deposit. As for the checks being made out to myself, it is made out to Linda B. Owen, treasurer. If it is lost in the mail and someone wants to cash it, I would hope the bank would ask for ID to prove who they are. When people come to the office and ask who they make the check payable to, we reply, either to, Linda B. Owen, treasurer or Brandon Township, which ever you feel comfortable with. After all, it is my name that is bonded and it is my fiduciary responsibility for collecting the taxes and making sure the taxes collected are distributed properly. I hope this explanation clears up any confusion or concerns on the new tax paying system. If anyone still has questions, I welcome any phone calls at 248-627-2853 or you may contact me directly at my office, or by email at lowen@brandontownship.us.
Linda B. Owen,
CPFA Brandon Township
Treasurer