Sandoval County Commission awards Junior County Treasurers

The Sandoval County Commission honored two high school students for completion of the inaugural Sandoval County Treasurer’s Office Junior Treasurer Program at the Feb. 28 meeting.

Jemez Valley High School senior Natalia Shije, from the Zia Pueblo, and Dani Villatoro, a senior at Rio Rancho High School, spent their fall semester in Sandoval County’s 2023 Junior County Treasurers program.

“They are both very bright and talented young ladies, which is why it is a great honor to present and recognize them for this achievement,” Sandoval County Treasurer Jennifer Taylor said. “They are truly deserving of the accolades and recognition for their efforts in completing this program.”

The program offered the two students an opportunity to experience first hand 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 and 911 services, libraries, public safety, senior program, roads and 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 Shije and Villatoro received their award, District 2 Commissioner Jay Block asked them, “What was the best thing that you learned that you can take away from this program?”

“For me personally, it was just being involved in the community, being able to interact with everyone and learn different perspectives and opinions, and also learning just how important property taxes can be and just how much that contributes to the community,” Villatoro said.

“One thing I learned was to stay living on my reservation,” Shije said. “I really enjoyed the mock board meeting. It really taught me how to speak in front of everybody and taught me how not to be afraid.”