I am a lifelong investor and I understand investment strategies in government backed securities to get maximum returns on our public investment dollars. This is a primary function of the elected Treasurer and cannot be taken lightly. I have 16 years in management experience as the assistant director of the Hamilton County Probation Department. I am very familiar with county policies, HR laws, budgeting, payroll, hiring and training employees, etc. I believe in a coaching model of management versus supervisory. I received a perfect score on my annual evaluation each of my final 8 years of employment with Hamilton County.

The challenge for every county department (as well as cities and schools) is to hold costs in order to reduce the county tax rate on property taxes. Citizens who have lived in Hamilton County for a long period of time, especially senior citizens, are being taxed out of their homes and we cannot allow this to continue. The Treasurer must invest county funds to maximize returns. Short-term government backed securities are yielding 25-year highs, but our returns are lagging these yields by a significant margin. Hamilton County lagged the state of Indiana's Local Government Investment Pool by 1.35% in 2023 and 0.49% in 2022 resulting in $8.7 million less in revenue. This is despite the fact Hamilton County is eligible to participate in the state investment pool. We cannot continue to lag the state fund. We must take advantage of historically high yields now.

(1) I will open an account with the state of Indiana local government investment pool (www.trustindiana.in.gov) to match the high returns the state has achieved. Funds are insured and available every business day. (2) I will close low interest accounts and move the funds to higher yielding money market accounts insured through the FDIC and the state of Indiana Public Funds Insurance agency. (3) I will create a duration ladder of investments in United States Treasury Bills. (4) I will drastically improve transparency in our investments by posting on the county website the composition of our investments and our quarterly returns. (5) I will improve adoption of E-billing for property tax statements to reduce the cost of printing and mailing over 125,000 statements annually. (6) I will use a coaching model of office management to help all employees be at our best in serving the citizens of Hamilton County.

The Treasurer's Office will be transparent in what we do and will always operate with the needs of the citizens in mind. I will work with the Hamilton County Auditor, County Council and County Commissioners to ensure funds are being handled properly and that all funds are available for use when needed. The office will be data-driven, and reports will be shared with county officials on a regular basis.

The Treasurer's office needs to use technology wisely to maximize efficiency. We must serve more citizens without increasing our staffing needs. Infrastructure needs are costly for a fast-growing county and the costs fall largely upon current residents. I have heard too many public employees "pass the buck" to other county or city offices or to the schools. The fact is that every one of us must work to limit the cost of government. I emphasize the pledge of Private Martin Treptow who was a fallen soldier in WW1. Found in his shirt pocket was a letter that read: "America must win this war. Therefore, I will work, I will save, I will sacrifice... and do my utmost, as if the issue of the whole struggle depended on me alone."

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