Treasurer leery of taking on accounting tasks
Isabella County Treasurer Steve Pickens considers himself a team player.
In years past, Pickens has taken on the role of administrator when the county was in the process of hiring one.
He has also done accounting for the county, prior to a former administrator taking on that task.
Now, as they are trying to balance the budget with cuts following the failure of a millage in February, county commissioners are discussing moving accounting back to the treasurer’s office.
Having been the county’s elected treasurer for the last 33 years, Pickens was quite surprised to hear that the board said that the accounting for the county was coming back to his office.
“There was no mention of any details at the prior budget meeting of personnel help or financial adjustments to go along with the change, Pickens said. “The current situation shows spending for two accounting positions and the use of the $335 per hour certified public accountant.
“Why is that not working, why are we getting wrote up in our audits?”
Pickens said he warned commissioners of a looming financial crisis before Covid hit and before they went ahead with the jail project.
In fact, Pickens said, the board’s own forecasting model indicated deficit projections; doing the accounting does not eliminate those decisions.
“I’ve always been a team player when allowed but, on many occasions, it had turned to deaf ears, and lack of appreciation,” Pickens said. “Especially the last nine.
“I took the accounting duties back in the early 90s when they needed help. Only to have the board remove it some six years later. Now we face a much worse situation financially and they want me to do it all over again.”
Pickens said a lot of responsibility goes into the proposed change and it’s not an easy task to take on.
He also isn’t legally obligated to do so — under Michigan law, elected county treasurers are responsible for collecting and disbursing taxes and managing investments. Most county boards hire an administrator or controller to manage day-to-day accounting needs.
Regulations indicate if the controller