Royalton’s treasurer since 1975
“Death, taxes and Pat Craig being re-elected as Royalton Town Treasurer. Some things never change.”
The editor of the former “Weyauwega Chronicle” wrote those words in 2001 as he started the article about the town of Royalton’s election results.
Craig’s first election to the position back in 1975 happened because she went to the town caucus to nominate the clerk for office.
This year, the quote by that former editor will no longer apply, as Craig is not running for re-election.
She has been Royalton’s treasurer for 46 years and believes it is time for the younger generation to seek office.
Craig reflected on the changes that have occurred during her time in office.
This includes the treasurer stuffing and mailing tax envelopes, collecting taxes at her home and the bank, recording taxes in a huge ledger, working with five different chairs and clerks and baking treats for town meetings.
The duties of treasurer have been modernized by the Waupaca County Treasurer mailing the tax bills, requiring the use of a computer, entering taxes in the county’s system and computing the payments to taxing jurisdictions.
Other examples of changes are the use of email for communications and tax bills now listing lottery credit, first dollar credit, referendums, septic maintenance fee the and previous year’s taxes.
Memories, friendships
Memories of collecting taxes by cash or checks in her kitchen, balancing the books for every penny collected, personally delivering the checks to the various schools and taxing entities, as well as the friendships, reflect her satisfaction with the treasurer’s duties she has enjoyed.
In addition, Craig served her community in numerous other ways through the years.
She served as secretary-treasurer for the Waupaca County Towns Association Unit for 1983-1993, vice chair from 1993-2003 and and chair from 2003-2013 (she voluntarily gave up that office, too).
Craig has also served her community and church by serving as congregational secretary, on the school board, as well as on Ladies Aid and various activities of St. Paul Lutheran Church, in Manawa.
In addition, she is a lifetime member of the Weyauwega and Waupaca historical societies and enjoys genealogy research for family and the area.
Craig always enjoyed the many other town officers and officials she got to know while being Royalton’s treasurer.
A highlight was a bus tour by town officials to Washington, D.C. in 2001.
Always interested in the town, she attended many meetings dealing with the watershed, comprehensive plan process, railroad closing town roads, buying the present town hall and county zoning meetings.
Answering the phone to help residents find the answers to their questions was always an enjoyable part of her service to the town.
Craig has enjoyed getting to know the residents of the town and has enjoyed serving them.
Her last meeting as treasurer will be on April 8.
Craig’s future includes attending town meetings as a Waupaca County Board supervisor.
She was elected to the county board in 1996 to represent District 18.
Plans to visit her daughter and family in Wyoming will also fill her time.