The Porter County Council did not shut down county Auditor Bob Wichlinski’s total quality management program as reported. A majority of councilmen are asking for accountability from the auditor for future expenditures. The minutes of the March 11 meeting reflect the same.
The County Council gave the financial departments an additional appropriation of nearly $500,000 in March 2011 as seed money requested by Wichlinski to assist departments with fixing property tax billing, its distribution, address the backlog of tax appeals and crack down on homestead violators. Simply stated, whatever was needed to get our county out of the Dark Ages.
Mission accomplished! Since the inception of TQM, the auditor’s nonreverting fund garnered more than $1.6 million from homestead violations, and the above-mentioned problems plaguing our county were addressed with a positive result. To date, there are existing circumstances which should be funded to their completion.
What is problematic are some expenditures from this fund which are unrealistic, unnecessary or excessive. The auditor presented spreadsheets to the council at its March 11 meeting showing revenue and expenses from the inception of TQM through Dec. 31. Payouts are listed by date, amount and payees which also include a brief description of service provided.
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Accountability is something taxpayers demand from public officials, and the nonreverting fund will no longer be an exception.
