TOWN TREASURER

The office of Treasurer in Rye was created in 1771. The first treasurer to handle the town money was Samuel Jenness. There is no other Town Treasurer recorded until 1879. The funds were held by the Selectmen until that time. In 1879 it was David Jenness who was elected Treasurer. Then there was a succession of familiar family names into the 1900’s: Brown, Garland, Drake, Parsons, Woodman and Remick.

The Rye Town Treasurer is an elected official, and serves a three-year term. The Treasurer is responsible for all of the financial assets of the town except those under the jurisdiction of the Trustees of the Trust Funds and those special funds that are managed by other Town officers as prescribed by law. The Treasurer signs all Town payroll and Accounts Payable checks; has the authority (along with the Board of Selectmen) to borrow on behalf of the Town; maintains all of the Town’s bank accounts; and reconciles the Town’s bank statements. The Treasurer also holds the Town’s escrow and other cash accounts.

The Finance Department, Tax Collector, and Town Clerk provide the Treasurer with cash receipts reports on a weekly basis. And the Treasurer provides monthly reports regarding the Town’s financial assets to the Finance Director.

The current Treasurer is Leon Blaisdell, whose office is on the second floor of the Rye Town Hall.