Need for County Treasurer’s Office debated at workshop

A candidate for Bell County treasurer’s desire to eliminate the elected position has caused a stir throughout the county and prompted a Tuesday morning Commissioners Court workshop last week to discuss the matter.

Ten of Texas’ 254 counties have either eliminated or not funded the county treasurer’s position, and others could soon follow suit.

Incumbent Bell County Treasurer Gaylon Evans and Adriane Hodges, co-owner of Bold Republic Brewing Co. in West Temple, are running in the Republican primary for the seat on March 3.

Last Tuesday’s workshop started with a public hearing about the issue, and about a dozen people commented. Commissioner Precinct 2 Bobby Whitson placed the item on the workshop agenda.

“The question has come up: Is the Bell County Treasurer’s Office needed?” Whitson said. “We have differing opinions on the value of the County Treasurer’s Office. Is it vital? What is required of a treasurer?”

He also questioned what it would take to legally do away with the office.

“We have to remember: We are not voting (on March 3) to do away with the office, we are voting on the candidates.”

The first speaker was Mack Latimer of Belton. Latimer, an Army veteran and small business owner, said he has worked with the Bell County government for years. He also is a campaign consultant for Hodges.

“I was sparked by a comment years ago about the Treasurer’s Office, and I did deep research on the situation,” he said. “The office can be eliminated — 10 counties have already gotten rid of their County Treasurer.”

“The position of County Treasurer is a constitutional office started in 1845,” Latimer said. “The state created the County Auditor position in 1905 as a true check and balance for the Commissioners Court.”

According to Latimer, Texas counties often had fraud and mismanagement issues with County Treasurers before auditors came into play.

Latimer said the current Bell County Treasurer has not made good choices in selecting investments for the county’s money.

“Bell County has got the worst returns possible since 2020,” he said.

Tyler County Treasurer Leann Monk made the drive from Woodville to speak at the workshop. She also serves as president-elect of the County Treasurers Association in Texas.

“Let me first say that I’ve never been in trouble, and neither have most treasurers in the state,” Monk said. “Constituents deserve another set of eyes to make sure checks and balances are met. I work hand-in-hand with our auditor — four eyes are better than two.”

“It’s not as simple as saying ‘Let’s get rid of the treasurer’s position,’” she added. “Someone has to do the work. If you get rid of the County Treasurer’s office, someone else will have to do the work. Other offices like auditor or County Clerk already have a thousand things to do. They just don’t have the time to handle the County Treasurers work as well.”

“My Daddy always told me: You get what you pay for,” Monk said. “I’d rather pay for someone focused and determined to do treasurers’ work. It’s the County Treasurer’s job to be the keeper of the county and constituents’ money.”

Bell County Auditor Tina Entrop said her office does not duplicate tasks done in the Treasurer’s Office.

“We have no spare people in the Auditor’s Office,” she said. “We would need more people to take on the Treasurer’s Office work.”

Monk agreed that 10 counties in Texas are without a treasurer, but she added that one county is seeking to get their treasury office back.

“If you don’t like what your current treasurer is doing, get rid of him … but don’t make a decision for future courts that y’all are going to regret later on. We can’t take away the voice of the people.”

Monk said the County Treasurer’s duties vary from county to county.

“I do investments, receipts, disbursements and handle jury funds, payroll and the hotel occupancy taxes,” she said. “Every day, something new happens. The 244 county treasurers in Texas do 244 different things.”

Monk said the process for eliminating the Treasurer’s Office starts with the county commissioners.

“The Court would put together a resolution, and that would go to a state lawmaker,” she said. “You need a house and senate joint resolution to change the Texas constitution. Once that happens, it is put on the November ballot. It has to pass locally for the office to be eliminated.”

Hodges, the candidate seeking to replace Evans as County Treasurer, spoke about the process of eliminating the treasurer’s office in Galveston and other counties. She said Bell County is growing, and many departments need more employees.

“Some of the County Treasurer’s duties — like investing county funds — is not a daily duty,” she said.

“I think eliminating the position is the right thing to do,” Hodges added. “I think we can consolidate the duties of Treasurers Office employees. It’s our responsibility to take a deep dive into this and let voters have a voice.”

“You need a joint house and senate resolution — they make it hard so we have conversations like this. It’s not an instantaneous decision.”