Junior County Treasurers share their thoughts on program

Natalia Shiji from Jemez Valley High School and Daniela (Dani) Villatoro from Rio Rancho High School spent their fall semester in Sandoval County’s 2023 Junior County Treasurers program.

They were selected by the Treasurer’s Evaluation Committee, which reviewed several essay applications from county high school students. Sandoval County Treasurer Jennifer A. Taylor announced Shiji and Villatoro were chosen for the program in September.

“We are going to ensure this program is a successful and amazing experience for both of these students,” Taylor said during the announcement. “This is a great opportunity and will give them hands-on experience in local government and public service, as well as provide a public speaking platform. Both candidates will be expected to conduct their own mock Board of Finance

meeting later in the year.”

The program offered the two students an opportunity to experience firsthand how local government, specifically the Treasurer’s Office, works.

While participating in the program, the Junior County Treasurers learned how the County:

• Collects property taxes,
• How the money collected is allocated to various groups such as DWI, Fire & 911 Services, Libraries, Public Safety, Senior Program, Roads & Infrastructure, Landfill, Detention Center, and
• Basic customer services skills as the Treasurer’s Office works with the public and for the public.

Curriculum requirements were:

1. Attendance at a County Commission Meeting.
2. Attendance at a Board of Finance Meeting.
3. Attendance at a Sandoval County Investment Committee Meeting.
4. Attendance at a County-sponsored community event, and
5. Participation in a mock Board of Finance Meeting.

After completing the program, each Junior County Treasurer will receive a Plaque of Recognition at a County Commission Meeting. Taylor said that participation in such a program is an excellent addition to a student’s resume or higher education application.

Here’s how the two Junior County Treasurers felt about their semester in the program:

Natalia Shiji

“I was a little skeptical at first as it wasn’t something I was really interested in but then I thought it would be a great opportunity to gain more knowledge about the treasurer’s position as well as the process of collecting and distributing taxes.

I really liked the positive and encouraging environment, everyone is very welcoming. Also, I like the process of how they collect taxes and how they are constantly trying to find ways to accommodate people in paying their taxes.

I learned a lot about investments as well as the jobs of the assessor and county clerks. Also, I learned about the different acronyms they use while summarizing their work for the year at the board of finance meetings. Another thing I learned was the tax year schedule and its important dates of when to pay taxes and when the tax roll is transferred.

The amount of knowledge I gained in a short amount of time about the treasurer’s position as well as everyone else in the office surprised me. They also have food drives and Christmas gifts during the holidays for those who may need it.”

Dani Villatoro

“As one of the Sandoval County Junior Treasurers, it was a great honor to participate in the program. It was an amazing experience for personal growth that required leadership and commitment. Being provided with the opportunity to develop my management skills alongside adept professionals was new, but they were dedicated to making the project as digestible as possible. Not once was I made to feel inferior nor ashamed about my lack of experience.

I learned about the elaborateness of financial decision-making and the impacts it may have on the lives of others. Those who work in the Treasurer’s office are constantly put to the test, it is no easy feat. The program is a fantastic chance for young people to be introduced to the world of public funds – like property taxes, including how currency is distributed within the county, and local government.

Sandoval County Treasurer, Jennifer Taylor, served as a mentor the entire duration and was always willing to clarify anything that we had difficulty processing. Now I have been made aware of just how crucial tax payments are to a working and functioning economy. Put simply, tax dollars are distributed to help upkeep the local/public areas and infrastructure, bettering the well beings of all New Mexicans.

As per the curriculum’s obligations, we attended three formal meetings: A County Commission Meeting, a Board of Finance Meeting and an Investment Committee Meeting. While all of these were interesting, it is without a doubt that they were complex and quite hard to understand in certain instances. Nonetheless, the hands-on personal acquaintance with such data, and the atmosphere, is unmatched in a traditional class-like setting.

I will soon be able to speak in a mock Board of Finance Meeting, something that I am both nervous about and excited to await.

Furthermore, I had personally been required to attend a community sponsored event. It was a craft fair where I showed my support to the vendors and artists. It was small, yet nice and rewarding. Besides that, I was also able to attend another short program with the county; CRASE Training (Civilian Response To Active Shooter Events). Topics covered included: the ALERT Avoid, Deny. Defend system together with the latest research on active shooters, My instructor was the County Investigator, Philip Holmes, a well versed man of character.

Once more, I am very happy to have been a part of all of this. As an underprivileged child of immigrants, I had never envisioned myself being able to do even half of this.”