SAULNIER PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED CONSULTING SERVICES TO THE CITY UNDER THE FINANCIAL CONTROL BOARD AND WILL BE CHARGED WITH DOING A COMPREHSIVE REVIEW AND EVALUATION OF THE CITY’S ASSESSORS OFFICE TO CREATE GREATER EFFICIENCIES
Citing her experience with the City as a hired consultant under the Springfield Finance Control Board, her vast knowledge of state assessing laws and service as a member and Past President of the Massachusetts Association of Assessing Officers, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Chief Administrative and Financial Officer Lee C. Erdmann announced today that Christine M. Saulnier will serve as an interim city assessor for an initial period of ninety (90) days while the City’s Personnel Department conducts a search for a permanent assessor. Saulnier replaces former City Assessor Carol Smith whose employment with the City was separated on March 19, 2012.
Saulnier will be one of three city assessors who are responsible for administrative and technical work, determining valuation of real and personal property for municipal tax purposes, determining the municipal tax rate for submission to the Mayor and Springfield City Council, levying various municipal taxes and for abating taxes in accordance with state statute. City Assessors also supervise the preparation of individual real and personal property taxes and the commitment of tax warrants to the City Collector, and oversee the inspection of property, including appealed cases and building construction and alteration, for appraisals for tax purposes. Saulnier will also conduct a comprehensive review and evaluation of the City’s Assessors Office to determine where greater efficiencies and cost saving measures can be made.
“I’m very pleased that Christine Saulnier has accepted this position with the City of Springfield. She is very knowledgeable in her field and it is vitally important that the City hire someone with her experience and knowledge on a temporary basis during an extremely busy time in the Assessors Department until a permanent replacement is named,” stated Mayor Domenic J. Sarno. “In addition to her work as an Assessor, I have requested a complete review and evaluation of the department to determine what cost saving measures can be implemented.”
Saulnier possesses over 30 years of experience in the field and has served as an Assessor for the Town of East Longmeadow since 2006. In 2005, Saulnier served as a consultant for the Towns of Montague, Princeton and Stoneham and had served as the Director of Assessing for the Town of Montague from 1986-2003. She is a Massachusetts Accredited Assessor and is certified by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.
“As the City continues to be faced with local aid cuts, the Fiscal Year 2013 budget will be the most difficult one since becoming Mayor,” stated Mayor Domenic J. Sarno. “My duty and role as C.E.O. of Springfield is not only to keep our City solvent, but also to move it forward and municipal finance starts with the assessors division.”
Chief Administrative and Financial Officer Lee C. Erdmann stated “I am pleased to be part of the process in appointing our new assessor and I welcome her to our team.”
Saulnier holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Anna Maria College in Paxton, Massachusetts, and has attended numerous courses offered through the International Association of Assessing Officers, Massachusetts Association of Assessing Officers and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Revenue.
The Following is a list of associations Christine Saulnier is currently or had been a member of:
• Member and Past President of the Massachusetts Association of Assessing Officers (M.A.A.O.)
• Former member and Chairperson of M.A.A.O. Legislative Committee
• Former Chairperson of M.A.A.O. State Owned Land Committee
• Current member of International Association of Assessing Officers
• Former member of Northeast Regional Association of Assessing Officers
• Former member and Past Chairperson of East Longmeadow Appropriations Committee
• Former Member of the Association of Mass Finance Committees
Saulnier’s appointment is effective April 2, 2012. She will earn a weekly salary of $1,050.00.
Page last updated: Tuesday, March 1, 2022 01:32 pm