THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 10, 1996 TAG: 9607100346
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TERRI WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 55 lines
Ronald H. Williams is Suffolk's money man, the person who keeps tabs on how much revenue comes into the city's coffers and what must be paid out to various city departments.
In the judgment of his peers, Williams does his job very well.
Williams was recently selected ``Treasurer of the Year,'' during the Treasurers' Association of Virginia annual conference.
Fred W. Parker, president of the Treasurers' Association, said they chose Williams because he administers an efficient and professional office.
``The awards committee looks at city treasurers who exemplify public service,'' said Parker. ``He maintains his office. He continually updates his staff. He always goes the extra mile.''
Williams, 46, has been the city treasurer for the past 14 years. An Old Dominion University graduate, Williams has also served as an assistant vice president for both Atlantic Permanent Federal Savings Bank and Central Fidelity Bank. A native of Suffolk, Williams said he was encouraged to seek the treasurer's office by a local group.
``It seemed like a good move. I wanted to serve my locality and give back to my community,'' said Williams.
Williams replaced S.B. Hazlewood, who had retired as Suffolk's treasurer.
He still works with a Hazlewood, though. S.B. Hazlewood's son, Thomas, is the city's commissioner of revenue and said he and Williams work well together dealing with tax bills and assessments.
The city treasurer is a constitutional officer elected to a four-year term and earning $52,233.
Williams said one of his office's toughest challenges has been computing assessments and other collections. He said his office has increased the amount of delinquent taxes collected thanks to a new automated computer system the city got two years ago. Over the past three years - the most recent data available - Suffolk has a 98 percent collection rate, he said.
It can be difficult to get the state or cities to provide money for modernizing equipment, Williams and other city treasurers said.
``We're tax collectors and revenue receivers. Consequently the funding gets fuzzy between the state and the locality,'' explained Virginia Beach City Treasurer John T. Atkinson.
``If you don't ping on the General Assembly or on your local council, they'll forget your needs,'' he said.
Atkinson praised Williams' efforts in educating the General Assembly about the needs of treasury offices. Williams serves as the legislative chair for the association where he often lobbies for funding localities.
``He's a very hard worker for the treasury,'' said Atkinson.
Williams is married to Patricia Willis Williams who is a registered nurse and director of critical care at Suffolk's Obici Hospital. They have two sons. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Ronald H. Williams does his job well, according to his peers, by
keeping his staff updated. by CNB