LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors has approved moving forward with seeking legislation that would allow the county of Lake to consolidate its auditor-controller and treasurer-tax collector’s offices.
The board gave consensus for the plan at its Tuesday morning meeting.
The proposal calls for county officials to pursue having the county added to a section of California Government Code that allows several counties to consolidate their auditor-controller and treasurer-tax collector’s offices.
In Lake County’s case, Board Chair Jim Steele said it’s an opportunity to streamline fiscal departments and address the county’s financial situation, noting it would be a future option.
“The secondary part of the discussion is whether or not your board desires to raise the educational requirements for the treasurer-tax collector position,” said County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson, noting the county’s current requirements mirror state law.
According to government code, to be eligible to be a county treasurer-tax collector, an individual must meet at least one of the following requirements: have served in a senior financial management position in a county, city or other public agency for a continuous period of not less than three years; possess a valid bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree from an accredited university or college in business administration, public administration, economics, finance, accounting or a related field, with a minimum of 16 college semester units or the equivalent in accounting, auditing or finance; possess a valid certificate issued by the California Board of Accountancy; possess a valid charter issued by the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts; or possess a valid certificate issued by the Treasury Management Association.
Huchingson said staff has confirmed that the board can establish qualifications by ordinance, which would set them for future treasurer-tax collectors. The county’s requirements could exceed what is set by state law but not go below them.
A bachelor’s degree in a pertinent field would be required with experience not to be allowed as a substitute for education, Huchingson said.
Cathy Saderlund, the county’s auditor-controller-county clerk, said that the board would have to address the fact that the county clerk’s function is consolidated with the auditor-controller offices, which isn’t reflected in the state code.
She said there are already minimum qualifications in place for her position in current legislation.
Saderlund noted that the county of Napa also is considering the consolidation of their auditor-controller and tax collector.
She acknowledged that there are efficiencies, and that segregation of duties and internal controls can be addressed, adding that she’s happy to assist with the effort.
Treasurer-Tax Collector Barbara Ringen said she understood why the matter was before the board and she also wanted to assist in any research or transition for consolidation of the offices.
Steele noted that Ringen has had problems with staff resources in order to get work done on time, and was having trouble closing the books to bring them forward for the county budget.
County Counsel Anita Grant said the legislation that allowed for a select number of counties to consolidate their tax collector-treasurer and auditor-controller offices didn’t initially include all of the counties now listed, with many of them asking to be added, as Lake is intending to do.
She said the county auditor has auditing powers over the treasurer’s functions as well as the tax collector’s. However, the courts and the California Attorney General’s Office have found that there would is no prohibition to the consolidations under the doctrine of incompatible offices.
By the end of the discussion, which lasted about 20 minutes, Steele had unanimous consensus from the board to move forward will pursuing the legislative change and majority support for making the minimum qualifications for the offices a bachelor’s degree, which will apply to future office holders.
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Board of Supervisors supports pursuing legislation to consolidate auditor-controller and treasurer-tax collector offices
- Elizabeth Larson
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