Michelle Anderson was first elected McLean County auditor in 2010. (Photo courtesy Michelle Anderson)

By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON - Michelle Anderson is seeking her second term as McLean County auditor.

Anderson, 32, was appointed to the post in 2009 after working in that office for two years. She was elected in 2010. The Minier native is an Olympia High School and Illinois State University graduate. She worked in public accounting prior to joining the auditor's office in 2007.

Anderson said since her appointment, the county has resumed handling its own financial reports which until 2006 has been done by an outside firm at an added costs. She says the office has done this while operating on what she calls a 'bare-bones budget.'

"My staff has gone down over 23 percent since taking office and we've actually taken on more responsiblities," Anderson said.

Anderson said the office implemented a new financial software system that she says is more user-friendly than the old system and has helped improve efficiency.

"My staff has been able to cut back and get to spend time on more important things than runing and mailing reports to department heads," Anderson said.

Anderson said the auditor's office plans to start a new electronic funds transfer program in January that would enable the county to save the expense of producing and mailing checks.

Anderson said she doesn't feel it would be appropriate to play a larger role in the budget process, saying that her office doesn't decide who gets what money, they just write the checks.

"As far as telling the county board they can't spend money on a highway project (for example), or tell them them they can't do a certain project, is not within my statutory authority, nor do I think they would appreciate it," Anderson said.

Anderson said anyone seeking more information about the auditor's office can go to the McLean County website.

Anderson is single. Her parents, Phil and Leann, live in Minier. 

Eric Stock can be reached at eric.stock@cumulus.com.
  
You can see candidate Ben Pettie's candidate profile here.