KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners had some hard questions for the county Treasurer at their meeting Tuesday, and they’re demanding he get his books in order with the annual audit just a month away.
Treasurer Thomas Whitener has been through a series of leadership changes with county administration, had to deal with COVID-19 relief funding, reworking the pay scale for county employee, and putting together a county budget with a souring economy this fall.
He has also had defections from his own staff, who he says left for higher paying jobs elsewhere.
As if that wasn’t enough, Whitener told commissioners his office switched to a glitchy new software system in September, and it has forced them to redo a lot of work they had already done.
County Administrator Kevin Catlin says they are hiring extra accountants to catch up on reports.
Several commissioners said they are concerned, especially with auditors arriving in January. A bad audit could hurt the county’s credit rating and result in higher interest rates when they need to borrow.
(reporting from John McNeill)
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