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Job Description
Job Description
PRIMARY PURPOSE
Reviews requests for motor vehicle excise tax abatements, refunds and adjustments. Processes changes and denials. Processes bills for repair plates, dealer plates and re-commitments. Maintains current exempt and other files.
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS
Opens, sorts, stamps abatement related mail. Reviews and logs correspondence pertaining to abatement of motor vehicle abatements, adjustments, refunds, or changes. Abates the more routine, standardized motor vehicle excise taxes according to established guidelines. Denies those not meeting eligibility requirements. Contacts requestor, the Registry of Motor Vehicles or others for supporting or additional information. As required, sends out form letters for additional data. Informs assessed taxpayer of needed paperwork, documentation, and qualifications required to process a reduction or abatement of bill. Prepares warrants on new billings from the State pertaining to registered motor vehicles, repair plates, dealer plates, boats or re-billings. Receives City wide master lists of excise taxes. Culls exempts and rechecks and prepares lists of eligibles for bills generation. May be required to data enter some bills. Maintains and updates exempt files. Follows and adheres to department, City and other government rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
SECONDARY ELEMENTS
As required, trains others in motor vehicle excise tax "problem" resolution and processing. Prepares routine correspondence, letters, memoranda, records, cards, forms and other documents or information. Performs data entry and/or retrievals May be required to organize, maintain, update, and purge section files, documents and data. Performs other duties as required.
QUALIFICATIONS
(To perform successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. We encourage all candidates who feel they are capable of successfully performing the responsibilities as outlined in this position description, regardless of the qualifications listed below to apply.) EDUCATION and/or
EXPERIENCE
Associates and three to five years of related experience and/or training or equivalent combination of education and experience. Knowledge of clerical practices, abatements, excise taxes and office procedures and the operation of office equipment such as personal computers and computer software, data processing and/or word processing.
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read and interpret documents such as reports and procedures manual. Ability to write reports and correspondence. Ability to present information effectively, which may be controversial in nature, one-on-one, or in small groups to citizens or employees of the City.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals. Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions and percentages. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra
REASONING ABILITY
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed written or oral instructions. Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where prescribed standard practices exist.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
(The physical demands described here represent those requirements that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.) The physical demands described here represent those requirements that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. (This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.) Company Description
THE CITY
The City of Newton is a wonderful place to live and work. Newton has safe and attractive neighborhoods, an excellent public school system, an active community life, multiple transportation systems, proximity to Boston and a well-managed and financially strong City government. The City of Newton has a population of approximately 88,900, with 32,600 housing units and occupies a land area of 18.3 square miles. Newton is principally suburban-residential in character. Unlike many other communities that are established around a single Main Street or downtown, Newton is comprised of thirteen distinctive villages. Newton has a diversified economic base with approximately 4,700 establishments employing approximately 79,500 people. Newton is special in many ways. It is home to a variety of private secondary and post-secondary schools including a portion of Boston College, Lasell University, William James College, Hebrew College, and the UMass Amherst - Mount Ida Campus. The longest stretch of the Boston Marathon runs through the City, including the well-known Heartbreak Hill. Newton-Wellesley Hospital, part of the Mass General Brigham health care system, serves as an important partner to the City. In September 2018, Newton was again ranked #1 in Massachusetts as the best place to live and #12 in the
U.S. OUR GOVERNMENT
Newton has what is known as a "strong Mayor" form of government with the Mayor having the executive and administrative powers of the City. The legislative branch is comprised of 24 City Councilors. Mayor Marc C. Laredo was sworn in on January 1, 2026 after serving on the City Council. The City of Newton was evaluated by Moody's Investors Services in February 2020 and assigned its highest rating of AAA. Newton was thus well-positioned to weather the pandemic and economic downturn.
AS AN EMPLOYER
The City of Newton believes that its employees are its greatest asset. To that end, we are committed to supporting our employees by providing competitive wages and growth, a comprehensive benefits package which includes a defined municipal pension plan, quality health and dental insurance plans, generous paid leave benefits, paid holidays, and access to supplemental benefits such as deferred compensation, short term disability plans, flexible spending accounts, and other employee benefits. We also provide access to an Employee Assistance Program and access to employee training and professional development opportunities. We continuously work to review and expand upon our benefit offerings. We encourage you to visit our Human Resources Department website to learn more about our organization and benefits which are available to our employees. And as always, you are encouraged to reach out to our dynamic HR Team by emailing hr@newtonma.gov. Human Resources Diversity Statement We recognize our workforce is a source of strength that is vital to our ability to effectively serve the City of Newton's diverse community.
We will:
Actively recruit, develop, and retain a diverse and talented workforce. Proactively address discrimination through education and in partnership with other departments and leaders. Serve as a role model to celebrate and nurture diversity. Foster inclusion by staying curious and clarifying assumptions. Evaluate and develop policies and practices that reflect the diverse nature of our workforce. Build and strengthen accountability at all levels to support diversity efforts. The targeted salary range reflects what the City of Newton reasonably and in good faith expects to offer for this position at the time of posting, but the final salary determination may be within or outside this range based on various factors, including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, and market factors. The range will be reviewed regularly and is subject to change. Benefits Health insurance Dental insurance Tuition Reimbursement Flexible Spending Accounts 457 Deferred Compensation plans Metro Credit Union Verizon Wireless discount Employee Assistance Program Generous paid leave time benefits and paid holidays. City Retirement (Mandatory) Weekly Direct Deposit Opportunity to serve the public and join a dynamic team of dedicated employees
