1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,460 Hello, welcome to the Careers4Kids podcast where kids learn careers. 2 00:00:06,460 --> 00:00:08,500 This is Maxwell Valencia. 3 00:00:08,500 --> 00:00:09,500 And this is Henry Morrison. 4 00:00:09,500 --> 00:00:12,700 Today, we have Christine Allison, a tax collector. 5 00:00:12,700 --> 00:00:14,180 Hello, Miss Allison. 6 00:00:14,180 --> 00:00:16,420 Hey there, how are you guys today? 7 00:00:16,420 --> 00:00:17,420 We're good. 8 00:00:17,420 --> 00:00:21,420 And thank you so much for spending your time to be on Careers for Kids. 9 00:00:21,420 --> 00:00:22,780 We hope we have a good afternoon. 10 00:00:22,780 --> 00:00:23,780 Now let's get started. 11 00:00:23,780 --> 00:00:27,860 So, tell us what you currently do right now. 12 00:00:27,860 --> 00:00:31,420 I am currently the tax collector for the town of Westport. 13 00:00:31,420 --> 00:00:34,380 So tell us more about your job as a tax collector. 14 00:00:34,380 --> 00:00:37,980 Well, I'll be the tax collector, but more in depth. 15 00:00:37,980 --> 00:00:47,620 So as a tax collector, we are responsible for collecting the taxes on houses, cars, 16 00:00:47,620 --> 00:00:51,780 and businesses, and also for sewers. 17 00:00:51,780 --> 00:00:57,500 So with that being said, we collect all the money and then the town uses that money for 18 00:00:57,500 --> 00:01:05,740 expenses like tolls and roads, library, age center, and all those great things that people 19 00:01:05,740 --> 00:01:07,420 in Westport get to use. 20 00:01:07,420 --> 00:01:11,440 So what part of your job do you enjoy the most and dislike the most? 21 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:18,060 I really like the people I work with in town hall and the taxpayers are always very nice 22 00:01:18,060 --> 00:01:19,500 when they come in. 23 00:01:19,500 --> 00:01:25,180 They are usually very happy to pay their taxes because they know that the money is used for 24 00:01:25,180 --> 00:01:27,700 those things that I had spoken about earlier. 25 00:01:27,700 --> 00:01:34,060 You know, the parks and police force and the firemen and the beautiful beach that you have. 26 00:01:34,060 --> 00:01:39,380 So most people are pretty good with paying their taxes because they know it's going 27 00:01:39,380 --> 00:01:40,700 something good. 28 00:01:40,700 --> 00:01:45,740 Every once in a while we'll get someone that is a little bit disagreeable. 29 00:01:45,740 --> 00:01:51,460 Usually they say they didn't get a bill or maybe they paid it late and they had to pay 30 00:01:51,460 --> 00:01:52,980 some interest on it. 31 00:01:52,980 --> 00:01:55,340 So those are the difficulties. 32 00:01:55,340 --> 00:01:59,100 What's the percentage of interest if you pay late overtime? 33 00:01:59,100 --> 00:02:05,700 So tax collectors are actually governed by the state of Connecticut and they have special 34 00:02:05,700 --> 00:02:11,140 laws that tell us we have to charge at least one and a half percent per month. 35 00:02:11,140 --> 00:02:16,540 Well, not at least, it is one and a half percent per month going back to the due date. 36 00:02:16,540 --> 00:02:21,020 So if you paid your bill in July, it was due in August. 37 00:02:21,020 --> 00:02:26,860 Once you go past that August 1st due date, then you get charged one and a half percent 38 00:02:26,860 --> 00:02:29,900 for July and one and a half percent for August. 39 00:02:29,900 --> 00:02:34,180 So was this like the dream job you imagined yourself doing when you were a kid? 40 00:02:34,180 --> 00:02:37,140 Well, honestly, I really wanted to be a mom. 41 00:02:37,140 --> 00:02:40,060 That was my goal and I did become a mom. 42 00:02:40,060 --> 00:02:47,100 But originally I had started in college for nursing, but back in my day it wasn't required 43 00:02:47,100 --> 00:02:51,940 in high school, so when I got to chemistry in the college level it was a little too difficult 44 00:02:51,940 --> 00:02:52,940 for me. 45 00:02:52,940 --> 00:02:53,940 So that's kind of cool. 46 00:02:53,940 --> 00:02:57,380 I mean, you went through with your dream in some way, so a lot of people don't. 47 00:02:57,380 --> 00:02:59,060 So that's something to be proud of. 48 00:02:59,060 --> 00:03:00,060 Yeah. 49 00:03:00,060 --> 00:03:02,020 And who were your main idols when you were young? 50 00:03:02,020 --> 00:03:07,040 Well, I know it sounds kind of sappy, but I was always really fond of my dad and I always 51 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:12,980 watched him and what he did and he always went to work and he always strived to be one 52 00:03:12,980 --> 00:03:14,840 of the best at his job. 53 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:21,300 But I also, there was a woman, or she was a young girl at the time during the summer 54 00:03:21,300 --> 00:03:23,380 Olympics back when I was a kid. 55 00:03:23,380 --> 00:03:26,140 Her name was Olga Corbett and she was very famous. 56 00:03:26,140 --> 00:03:30,700 I think it was in 1972 actually when I was a kid. 57 00:03:30,700 --> 00:03:32,940 So yeah, I kind of looked up to her. 58 00:03:32,940 --> 00:03:34,420 I thought that was neat. 59 00:03:34,420 --> 00:03:36,560 So like, why did you pick this job? 60 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:39,060 Out of all the jobs, why did you pick this job? 61 00:03:39,060 --> 00:03:42,660 So I kind of fell into the tax collecting. 62 00:03:42,660 --> 00:03:47,100 I went to school for the nursing, but then changed career paths. 63 00:03:47,100 --> 00:03:49,620 I've kind of been on a zigzag path. 64 00:03:49,620 --> 00:03:53,940 Went to school for graphic arts and then I did that for about a year and a half and then 65 00:03:53,940 --> 00:03:56,180 I went into banking. 66 00:03:56,180 --> 00:03:58,060 So I did that for quite a while. 67 00:03:58,060 --> 00:04:02,540 Then I was a stay-at-home mom for a while and then I got my hairdressing license because 68 00:04:02,540 --> 00:04:05,740 then I could work part-time when my boys were small. 69 00:04:05,740 --> 00:04:11,060 And then I went back into banking and then I was offered a job here at Town Hall part-time 70 00:04:11,060 --> 00:04:12,220 to start. 71 00:04:12,220 --> 00:04:17,960 So I started at three days a week and three hours a day for those days that I worked. 72 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:22,440 And then I just kind of kept learning and growing and I ended up really liking it. 73 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:23,980 So here I am. 74 00:04:23,980 --> 00:04:27,420 So what was your career before this and what made you move on from it? 75 00:04:27,420 --> 00:04:30,540 I already know that you wanted to be a mom. 76 00:04:30,540 --> 00:04:38,540 Yeah, so I, well once your children get into school and then you're kind of at home and 77 00:04:38,540 --> 00:04:43,860 you don't have as much to do when your kids are in school, so I decided to go back to 78 00:04:43,860 --> 00:04:44,860 work. 79 00:04:44,860 --> 00:04:53,200 So I did a few things in between and I came to the town of Westport in 2015. 80 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:56,620 So what was the biggest highlight of your career? 81 00:04:56,620 --> 00:05:03,480 So the biggest highlight of tax collecting was that we did have to go back to school 82 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:06,100 when I was hired full-time. 83 00:05:06,100 --> 00:05:07,300 And it's a two-year program. 84 00:05:07,300 --> 00:05:14,380 You have to take four classes and pass each class and then a final exam to get your certification. 85 00:05:14,380 --> 00:05:20,580 So me going back to school in my 50s, I felt like it was a pretty big accomplishment, at 86 00:05:20,580 --> 00:05:22,180 least for me at that time. 87 00:05:22,180 --> 00:05:24,620 So so far that's a big accomplishment. 88 00:05:24,620 --> 00:05:26,380 What a big highlight. 89 00:05:26,380 --> 00:05:27,380 I have another question. 90 00:05:27,380 --> 00:05:31,540 What are the biggest challenges that you think can be solved by our generation that you'd 91 00:05:31,540 --> 00:05:33,060 want us to solve for you? 92 00:05:33,060 --> 00:05:37,660 Well, I guess you guys are way smarter than I was at a younger age. 93 00:05:37,660 --> 00:05:41,860 Kids know so much more than we knew at your age. 94 00:05:41,860 --> 00:05:44,460 I guess just getting information out there. 95 00:05:44,460 --> 00:05:50,740 I have to say that one thing about tax collecting is that tax collectors are definitely misunderstood, 96 00:05:50,740 --> 00:05:53,140 not really liked for the most part. 97 00:05:53,140 --> 00:05:54,940 But you know, nobody likes to pay taxes. 98 00:05:54,940 --> 00:05:58,100 It is something that we all have to do. 99 00:05:58,100 --> 00:06:04,180 And like I had mentioned earlier that, you know, the taxes go for excellent things. 100 00:06:04,180 --> 00:06:09,620 You know, in Westport, that's one of the best school systems in the nation. 101 00:06:09,620 --> 00:06:12,180 So that's really something to be said about. 102 00:06:12,180 --> 00:06:13,660 And very safe here. 103 00:06:13,660 --> 00:06:16,060 So the police and fire take good care of you. 104 00:06:16,060 --> 00:06:22,100 And all these things that I collect money for goes towards having a great town to live 105 00:06:22,100 --> 00:06:23,100 in. 106 00:06:23,100 --> 00:06:28,020 So if you can inform any of your fellow students about that, because a lot of people just say, 107 00:06:28,020 --> 00:06:31,020 you know, taxes are yuck, which is true. 108 00:06:31,020 --> 00:06:37,140 But maybe if people knew more about what it's used for, they wouldn't be so resistant to 109 00:06:37,140 --> 00:06:38,140 pay. 110 00:06:38,140 --> 00:06:39,140 Yeah. 111 00:06:39,140 --> 00:06:42,940 Like I remember when I was younger, I was like, why the heck are there taxes in my thing? 112 00:06:42,940 --> 00:06:44,220 It's extra money being sent. 113 00:06:44,220 --> 00:06:49,060 But then I realized what the point of taxes like to build roads, to build schools and 114 00:06:49,060 --> 00:06:50,060 many other things. 115 00:06:50,060 --> 00:06:52,340 Infrastructure is a big part of the country. 116 00:06:52,340 --> 00:06:58,460 It's everybody like it gets the average person moving and getting around on a day to day 117 00:06:58,460 --> 00:06:59,460 basis. 118 00:06:59,460 --> 00:07:00,460 Kind of amazing. 119 00:07:00,460 --> 00:07:01,460 Yeah. 120 00:07:01,460 --> 00:07:06,300 And if someone wants to follow in your footsteps in your careers, what would you tell him slash 121 00:07:06,300 --> 00:07:07,300 her? 122 00:07:07,300 --> 00:07:12,100 I would say that math is an important thing to have. 123 00:07:12,100 --> 00:07:17,900 Not that we do any kind of calculus or anything here, but knowing addition, subtraction, multiplication, 124 00:07:17,900 --> 00:07:22,580 we have to figure out percentages and things. 125 00:07:22,580 --> 00:07:24,660 So math is always helpful. 126 00:07:24,660 --> 00:07:28,660 And then customer service skills are very helpful too. 127 00:07:28,660 --> 00:07:35,700 So you always want to try to deescalate a situation and help the person as best you 128 00:07:35,700 --> 00:07:42,580 can be understanding and try to solve the problem rather than, well, that's just how 129 00:07:42,580 --> 00:07:43,580 it is. 130 00:07:43,580 --> 00:07:47,680 You know, that doesn't accomplish anything and everyone just gets upset. 131 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:54,220 So those are two good things to have is the math and customer service skills and patience, 132 00:07:54,220 --> 00:07:55,580 perseverance. 133 00:07:55,580 --> 00:07:59,500 So what is your main life advice for kids listening to this podcast? 134 00:07:59,500 --> 00:08:02,500 I would say, I mean, any career that you pick. 135 00:08:02,500 --> 00:08:07,420 I had a son that went through college and then got his master's degree and he actually 136 00:08:07,420 --> 00:08:10,700 could not find a job in his field for about six months. 137 00:08:10,700 --> 00:08:15,760 So he was getting discouraged, but he took a job at Best Buy and worked there for six 138 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:19,700 months until he found a position in his career. 139 00:08:19,700 --> 00:08:23,620 And I kept telling him, I said, don't get discouraged, you know, if you don't get your 140 00:08:23,620 --> 00:08:25,360 dream job right away. 141 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:31,900 Each experience is not wasted time and you always build on what you learn and you will 142 00:08:31,900 --> 00:08:33,980 always keep growing. 143 00:08:33,980 --> 00:08:37,520 And another thing is, you know, just keep challenging yourself. 144 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:39,140 I get excited to learn every day. 145 00:08:39,140 --> 00:08:41,260 I think I'll be a lifetime learner. 146 00:08:41,260 --> 00:08:45,740 All of this should be, you know, it's exciting to learn new things, whether it be, ah, I 147 00:08:45,740 --> 00:08:49,420 have a hobby or, you know, something to do with your work. 148 00:08:49,420 --> 00:08:54,820 Let's try with things like don't ever think that something that you do is a waste of time 149 00:08:54,820 --> 00:08:59,260 because you never know when you're going to draw back on that experience. 150 00:08:59,260 --> 00:09:03,100 So thank you so much, Ms. Allison, for a long, long interview. 151 00:09:03,100 --> 00:09:05,780 We're sure way more kids will be inspired by this interview. 152 00:09:05,780 --> 00:09:07,220 Thank you for listening. 153 00:09:07,220 --> 00:09:08,940 Thanks for listening to the podcast. 154 00:09:08,940 --> 00:09:10,460 Hope you enjoyed the episode. 155 00:09:10,460 --> 00:09:11,460 We'll see you in the next one. 156 00:09:11,460 --> 00:09:12,460 Bye. 157 00:09:12,460 --> 00:09:16,100 Bye for now.