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Combining auditor, treasurer offices County commissioners unanimously decide to abolish treasurer's post in cost-savings measure Senior Reporter Crow Wing County commissioners Tuesday voted unanimously to combine the auditor and treasurer offices.
The vote, taken after a public hearing, abolishes the treasurer's office with a new auditor/treasurer's office beginning Jan. 1, 2011. Board members pointed to the difficult economy as a chief reason behind making the move now. Both Auditor Deborah Erickson and Treasurer Laureen Borden said they intended to run for the combined office.
Commissioners had the option of putting the question to voters in a special, primary or general election. The estimated $100,000 cost of a special election discouraged that option. If the board waited for a public referendum, the shortened timeline - following the state's recent move to an Aug. 10 primary election - meant the offices could not be combined until 2015. Commissioners pointed to their need to cut costs now.
Voters have the option of a reverse referendum and may petition to have the issue put to a public vote. The petition must have 10 percent of the voters who cast ballots in the last election, or 3,530 eligible voters. The petition must be submitted to the county auditor within a 30-day deadline. The clock for the deadline starts March 24.
Following the meeting, Borden said she will work to get the needed signatures for a petition to put the issue to a public vote for the November election.
"It will take a concerted effort," Borden said of getting the required number of signatures. "It will be daunting but we will make that attempt. (The people) should have the option to vote."
Borden said she plans to run for treasurer or the combined office if that is needed.
"I was disappointed by the board's action today," Borden said. "I don't think it will be a cost savings for any length of time."
Erickson said in the current economic times, the move to consolidate the offices makes sense and there is a demonstrated costs savings and efficiency along with options for greater customer service.
Erickson said the move would save about $140,000 with the elimination of two positions in wages and benefits along with office supplies. The county previously estimated an annual savings of at least $100,000. And Erickson pointed to technology available to the treasurer's office to process tax payments that would reduce the county's cost per check and use an electronic transfer to the bank, meaning funds would be collecting interest faster. The technology would cost about $15,000, but Erickson said the county already has grant money set aside and earmarked for a technology upgrade for the tax system.
"I feel strongly there will be some extreme cost savings to the voters," Erickson said.
Borden said there would be costs for a combined office for new seals, envelopes and supplies. In reference to a predicted cost savings in sending one department head instead of two to conferences, Borden said it would be tough to get all the information without taking a staff person along negating savings there. Borden said the issue was about a position and not about the people in office and she asked the board to put the question to voters.
Karen Selenis, who attended the public hearing, said the high number required for the petition effectively keeps it from a public vote. Selenis said the system is working now.
"You can't just throw it all in one soup pot and expect to come up with a tasty dish," Selenis told the board. "If nothing else I want to vote on this."
About 25 people attended the board meeting.
Lisa Paxton, Brainerd Lakes Chamber chief executive officer, said the move to combine the offices had the general support from the regional business council as a way to save money and retain the checks and balances in the system.
Jeff Czeczok, Brainerd resident, said if the board didn't act today, it would be throwing more than a half million dollars away considering the estimated annual savings between now and 2015.
John Borden, Crow Wing County resident, said he'd like to see statistics on the last five years from other counties with the combined position to see how much money was saved.
Commissioner Doug Houge pointed to other departments where services were combined and have done well and said this move is an option to offer a better service at a better price.
Commissioner Phil Trusty said he wouldn't be in favor if there wasn't a public option through the petition. Trusty said he's sadly had more calls on dogs and all-terrain vehicles than on this issue.
Most of the calls he received were more indicative of the esteem people had for Laureen Borden than support for separate offices, but Commissioner Paul Thiede said the board was faced with tough choices.
Commissioner Rachel Reabe Nystrom said with the tough economic conditions and $3.5 million the board needs to cut from the budget, the board needed to combine the offices.
"This has nothing to do with the job you have done because you have done an outstanding job," Nystrom told Borden. "There is no sacred cow left. We don't have room in the barn for sacred cows anymore.
"I don't do this with enthusiasm. I do it with a sense of regret but I think it's something we have to do."
RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.
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