Kim Blickman, Hooksett tax collector and municipal agent, presented the tax collector's proposed budget of $342,062, a $2,326 reduction from last year's default budget. She told the Budget Committee the office supports four staff — the tax collector, the deputy and two clerks — and that some employee cost increases will be handled through separate union and nonunion warrant articles.

Blickman said training and association dues rose because a state‑required conference was removed from last year's default but must be restored. "Per state statute, the town is required to pay for the conference," she said, adding that she alternates motor‑vehicle training attendance to keep clerks up to date on registration rules.

On equipment, Blickman requested tap‑to‑pay credit card machines to serve residents who use phone-based tap payments, registration barcode scanners to speed motor‑vehicle transactions and a money counter for large cash days. She described the barcode scanner as a device that reads the barcode on a driver's license to pull up vehicle records and reduce input errors. Blickman said some supply increases (thermal receipt paper and toner) are tied to those potential purchases.

Other small increases cover technical supplies and replacement of long‑used binders and date stamps. Blickman said the office uses multiple small printers—one per desk for motor‑vehicle printing and a networked scanner for state uploads—and that costs for some consumables (e.g., stamp pads that fit DMV stamps) are higher because there are few suppliers.

Committee members asked about the size of conferences, the volume of cash and whether money‑saving options such as online payment opt‑ins could reduce postage or mailing costs. Blickman said the office already offers online payment and will explore whether customers who pay online can be removed from mailed notices to reduce postage.

No formal action or vote was taken on the tax collector’s budget during this meeting; the committee requested follow‑up where necessary and will see updated health‑insurance numbers on Nov. 6.