The primary function of the elected clerk treasurer of a town is to serve as the fiscal officer of the town, along with that the clerk also has many other responsibilities. Some of those duties are:

• receive and care for all town money and disburse monies on the order of the town council;
• keep financial accounts identifying the sources from which funds have been received & disbursed.
• prescribe payroll & account forms for all town offices;
• prescribe the manner in which creditors, officers, and employees shall be paid;
• manage the finances and accounts of the town and make investments of town money;
• prepare the budget estimates of miscellaneous revenue, financial statements, and the proposed tax rate or the town council;
• maintain custody of the town seal and the records of the town council;
• issue all licenses and collect the fees fixed by ordinance;
• serve as the clerk of the legislative body by attending its meetings and recording its proceedings;
• administer oaths, take depositions and serve as a notary without a fee and ;
• serve as the clerk of the town court, if the judge of the town court does not serve as the clerk or appoint a clerk of the court (IC 36-5-6-6);
• powers to solemnize marriages (IC 31-11-6-1).

The clerk treasurer is also an ex officio member of the town council solely for the purpose of casting the deciding vote to break a tie (IC 36-5-2-8).

In most towns, the clerk-treasurer also maintains the books of the town’s utilities and the town council may provide that the clerk treasurer will receive extra compensation for such work (IC 36-5-3-2). Clerk treasurers are authorized to appoint deputies and employees subject to authorization by the town council. Such deputies and employees serve at the pleasure of the clerk treasurer (IC 36-5-6-7). If a town owns a utility and a clerk treasurer is directly responsible for the billing and collection of that utility’s rates and charges, the clerk treasurer shall appoint those employees who are also responsible for that billing and collection. These employees also serve at the clerk treasurer’s pleasure (IC 36-5-6-7).

The town council determines the salary of the clerk treasurer, who serves a four-year term. The salary cannot be changed in the year for which it is fixed nor may it be reduced below the amount fixed in the previous year (IC 36-5-3-2). The clerk treasurer must reside in the town or forfeit the office (IC 36-5-6-3).