From the Bloomington Herald-Times:
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The Monroe County auditor’s office is probably the most maligned in county government.
For the past eight years, the auditor’s office has made headlines not only for mistakes that cost the county hundreds of thousands of dollars, but for its recent leaders, who are accused of wrongdoing.
One of Saulter’s predecessors was asked to repay late fees incurred under her watch. The other is under investigation for charging personal purchases to her county-issued credit card.
It’s these past transgressions, he said, that most critics refer to when they talk about the office. Saulter understands that he can’t change the mistakes of the past, but at times, the criticism bothers him.
“The thing that gets me the most: People want to stand on the side of the street and throw rocks,” he said. “People need to find out what’s going on here.”
Elected in the midst of an investigation into his former boss, Auditor Amy Gerstman, Saulter issued a challenge to critics after the election: Come by and see how the office works. But so far, no one has come to see him.
“I’m very disappointed not one single person has taken me up on my offer,” Saulter said, slightly raising his normally soft voice and waving his finger in the air, to emphasize his point. He drops his hand and crosses both hands in front of his abdomen as he leans back in his chair. “I think because this office has had so much bad publicity, people are backing off a little bit,” he added. “People are saying, ‘This guy’s not a bad dude. He’s had his share of problems. Let’s give the old boy a chance.’”
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The auditor is the chief financial officer of the county, overseeing nearly every financial transaction, from vendor contracts to payroll to property taxes. The auditor works closely with the assessor’s office, as well as the county treasurer, particularly during property tax season.
If they all do their jobs correctly, the county runs smoothly, said Monroe County Assessor Judy Sharp. The problem is, according to Sharp, the past two auditors haven’t.
“It’s been hell,” she said. “With all that’s gone on in the office, in the past eight years, the staff held it together. Despite its bosses.”
Gerstman is accused of charging personal purchases to her county-issued credit card, and billing the county for a trip she never took. Gerstman does not have any criminal charges against her right now, though she still is under investigation by a special prosecutor, and Saulter will not address her legal troubles specifically.
“Until my former boss gets through the court process, there’s going to be an albatross hanging over the office,” he said.
It’s not just Gerstman’s case that haunts the auditor’s office. Her predecessor, Sandy Newmann, was asked to repay Monroe County for late fees to vendors incurred under her watch.
Moreover, errors under both cost taxpayers thousands. Most recently, an error made under Gerstman’s administration cost the county more than $120,000 in tax funds.
Ongoing problems with the Monroe County and Bloomington TIF districts, coming out of both administrations, are in the process of being resolved.
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See the full article here:
http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/stories/2013/04/07/news.saulter-working-to-restore-respect-for-auditors-office.sto?1365345895
