From the Bloomington Herald Times:
County Assessor Judy Sharp, Recorder Jim Fielder, Surveyor Kevin Enright and Treasurer Cathy Smith formed the Monroe County Council of Elected Officials early this year in response to a proposal to restructure Monroe County government.
The new council aims to “speak with one voice to address current and future issues associated with our county’s financial, logistical and substantive needs, infrastructure and employee well-being,” according to its charter, which the group presented to the Monroe County Council last week.
The foursome would like Monroe County Auditor Amy Gerstman to serve on the council, too, Sharp said. She said Gerstman has been invited to all meetings, but has never attended.
Those five officials and their departments are involved with property, were established by the Indiana Constitution, and have responsibilities set by state statute.
The purpose of the group is to “collaborate, cooperate, share services and find ways to reduce the cost of government” in the county as part of their “commitment to work together for the good of the citizens and taxpayers of Monroe County.”
...
An error in the auditor’s office recently meant slightly lower tax bills for all county property owners, erroneous tax bills for some tax-exempt properties, and less tax revenue for the county.
Human error is inevitable, Sharp said, but maybe it can be reduced with increased awareness of the work, needs and deadlines of related county officials.
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http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/stories/2012/05/18/news.county-officials-working-together-on-tough-issues.sto
