The Hooksett Town Council's recent budget review meeting highlighted a significant upgrade in the tax collector's office, focusing on new equipment that promises to streamline operations. Among the key discussions was the introduction of a coin counter and the anticipated arrival of credit card machines and registration scanners, which are expected to be implemented as soon as the budget is approved.
The tax collector emphasized that these new tools are readily available, stating, "They have them in stock. It's a push button." This upgrade aims to enhance efficiency, particularly for residents who often come in without their vehicle registrations. Currently, staff must manually gather information from driver's licenses, which can be cumbersome. The new registration scanner will allow for quick access to current registrations by scanning barcodes, significantly speeding up the process.
Council members expressed curiosity about the frequency of residents arriving without their registrations, particularly noting that this is common with trailers, which are often stored away from home. The tax collector confirmed, "Trailers are notorious for losing registrations," underscoring the need for this technological advancement.
While discussions about staffing and payroll were also raised, the focus remained on the positive impact these new tools will have on service delivery. The council is optimistic about the upcoming changes, which are set to improve the overall efficiency of the tax collector's office and enhance the experience for residents.