C. Michele Zilgme
Receiver of Taxes

"We work hard to provide the citizens of Colonie with an efficient, customer-friendly government."

Michele Zilgme has served as your Receiver of Taxes since 1996. She is a dedicated public servant who is responsible for collecting $114 million in taxes every year. Michele holds a highly technical job. She has been employed by the Town of Colonie since 1986 when she worked in the Latham Water District. She then transferred to the Colonie Assessor's Office where she worked as a Real Property Appraiser. This position provided Michele with considerable experience in the areas of real property valuation and administration, and in New York State Real Property Tax Law. She resides in the Consaul Road area of Colonie.

Michele is a highly educated administrator holding a B.A. Degree in Political Science from the University at Albany. She also holds a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Marist College which she earned in 1998. Her Master's Thesis was a highly technical statistical study using a survey instrument to explain the training needs of public employees in local and state public organizations in the State of New York.

The Colonie Tax Office continues to serve as a role model for other communities locally and throughout New York State. The office is highly efficient and it is open extra hours during the tax collection season to provide you with better customer service. Individual attention to your needs is always provided by the Tax Receivers Office. This work ethic and positive customer service attitude has led to Michele's involvement with professional tax receivers associations at the local and state level. Michele is active with the New York State Association of Tax Receivers and Collectors, and she is Chairperson of the Empire State Collectors and Receivers of Taxes. She also served as the Chairperson of the Tri County Tax Receivers and Collectors Association.

Community involvement is important to Michele and she has volunteered much of her time assisting various organizations. She is a member of the Polish American Citizens' Club, the Latham Rotary, the Shaker Heritage Society, the Alumni Association of the University at Albany, the Marist College Alumni Association, and she served as a member of the Junior League of Albany. She is also a member of the Latvian Sportsman Club, the Friends of Pruyn House in Latham, and has assisted the Greater Loudonville Association in the past. Michele has worked on many special community events in Colonie such as the Colonie Youth Center's Kids Fest in 1999, 2000, and 2001. She also assisted the Colonie Youth Center as a member of the Golf Tournament Committee.

Michele is an outstanding member of our Colonie Community and she deserves to be re-elected your Receiver of Taxes this fall.