Matawan tax collector ending 35-year career Mary Geran to turn the reins over to

Matawan tax collector
ending 35-year career
Mary Geran to turn
the reins over to


PAUL DOWD Mary Geran, the borough’s longtime tax collector, will be retiring at the end of this month after nearly 35 years of service to Matawan. PAUL DOWD Mary Geran, the borough’s longtime tax collector, will be retiring at the end of this month after nearly 35 years of service to Matawan.

Janice Garcia Aug. 31

By paul dowd

MATAWAN — For Mary Geran, what started out as a one-week trial period turned into a 35-year career as borough tax collector.

Now that unexpected career is about to come to an end.

Geran plans to retire at the end of the month when she will hand over the reins to her replacement, Janice Garcia.

Even as she winds down her career, she finds it incredulous that one week has turned into 35 years.

"I needed a job at the time," explained Geran. "So George Dietz, who was on the [Borough] Council at the time asked me to be the new tax collector. I said, ‘No way,’ and he said to come down for a week just to try it out, and here I am."

Geran began her tenure on Oct. 21, 1965. In those days, tax collectors were up for election every two years, and Geran found herself in an election after just two weeks on the job. Nevertheless, Geran was a write-in candidate and won the election.

At that time, after two-terms or five years on the job, tax collectors were exempted from the election process.

After the abolishment of elections for the tax collector position, the state, in 1981, mandated certification. Although Geran was grandfathered by the law, she took the test that year and received her certification.

Being tax collector, by Geran’s own admission, is not the most enviable position in any town, yet it is one of the most essential, providing the conduit of revenue for municipalities. Aside from collecting taxes, Geran’s duties include handling water bills, tax sales and lien redemptions, dealing with customers both on the phone and in the office, and reading mail.

With quarterly taxes coming due, August is one of the four busiest months for Geran, together with February, May and November.

"I’m tired," said Geran, a graduate of Saint Mary’s High School in South Amboy, explaining that "nowadays you have to think so hard, with all the state mandates, you almost have to be a lawyer."

Geran, who grew up in the Oakshades section of the former Matawan Township, has lived in the borough since 1949. She has raised four sons and a daughter, all of whom graduated from Matawan High School.

Like many longtime residents, Geran has seen many changes in the borough.

"I’ve seen the town when it was bustling. I remember when the movies were still playing in town," she said. "The traffic is horrendous now, but I see it [the borough] coming back. We are fortunate to have a downtown, so we shouldn’t lose it."

Geran is looking forward to her retirement at the end of the month as a chance to relax. She said she plans to continue her trips to Atlantic City to play the slot machines and to New York City for the Broadway plays.

"I’m not sorry to be leaving; it’s time," she said. "I’ve served my time, and, hopefully, I’ve served it well."

Geran, who says she has probably held the longest tenure for tax collector in the history of the borough and is the eldest of her Borough Hall colleagues, will be showing her replacement the ropes this month, teaching her about the new computer system which was installed last October, and trying to impart a career’s worth of experience and knowledge in one month.