Michigan State Police have announced that no charges are being filed in a probe of the Kalamazoo County Treasurer’s Office.
The investigation was sparked last year when transactions in the office were called into question. The transactions concerned the use of public funds to repair foreclosed properties before transferring them to private owners and non-profit businesses.
The bills for the renovations were paid out of the Kalamazoo County Tax Reversion Fund.
“After an investigation that spanned eleven months and consultation with the Michigan Attorney General Public Corruption Unit, there will be no charges filed in this incident and the case file will be closed,” State Police said in an official press release.
The probe was helped along by compliance with law enforcement.
“In an investigation such as this, it is of paramount importance that cooperation and transparency by all parties with information are cooperative and forthcoming to ensure a thorough and complete probe,” Police said. “During this inquiry, all Kalamazoo County Government officials were cooperative to include: the Kalamazoo County Administrator’s Office and corporate council along with the Kalamazoo County Treasurer and her office.”
Kalamazoo County Treasurer Mary Balkema has issued a statement in regards to the closure.
“To be clear, I have at all times and in all areas followed Michigan law,” Balkema said. “I remain proud of my record as the Kalamazoo County Treasurer. The mission and focus of myself, along with those in my office, has always remained and will continue to remain the same – preventing foreclosure and keeping people in their homes, connecting families with resources to maintain homeownership, reducing blight, investing in the tax base, and serving all taxpayers of Kalamazoo County.”
Kalamazoo County Administrator Tracie Moored also issued a statement.
“County Administration welcomes moving forward and positively working with the Treasurer to most effectively provide services to our community,” Moored said.
The investigation was originally launched in October of 2018.
