By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – The McLean County Board’s Finance Committee will meet in special session Monday to seek a resolution to an increasingly heated dispute between the county government’s two elected fiscal officers.
Treasurer Rebecca McNeil and Auditor Michelle Anderson, both Republicans, are expected to present their cases to committee members.
McNeil told the committee earlier this month that Anderson changed, without notifying the county board, the way the government books revenues and expenses. The change, according to McNeil, is slowing the county’s bill-paying process.
In a statement released last week, Anderson said there’s been no change in accounting policies or systems. She said she’s using the same system that’s been in place long before she took office.
Anderson said County Administrator Camille Rodriguez has believed McNeil’s lies and presented false information to the board.
The only change Anderson said she’s requesting is that McNeil use accurate general ledger dates when she processes invoices.
Anderson wants to have back bill-paying duties, which were taken away from the Auditor’s office and given to the Treasurer last year.
Anderson also recommends cutting three full-time Treasurer’s office employees, and adding one full-time worker to her office. Anderson claims that would save taxpayers $121,000 a year.
Committee members will consider, among other things, to allow Rodriguez to hire an independent Certified Public Accountant to make recommendations, and employ an independent auditor.
Such actions are a complete waste of taxpayer money, according to Anderson.
“State Statute states, and an Attorney General opinion confirms, that I am the General Accountant for McLean County and am the Officer ‘given the power to devise a system of financial records,”‘ Anderson said.
Monday’s special meeting is set for Monday at 4:30 p.m. on the fourth floor of the McLean County Government Center.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
