Laurie Renier Answers Questions For Winona Lake Clerk-Treasurer Race
April 24, 2023 at 10:10 p.m.
Laurie Renier Answers Questions For Winona Lake Clerk-Treasurer Race
By David L. Slone-
Following are the responses given by Winona Lake incumbent Clerk-Treasurer Laurie Renier.
1. What expertise and skills do you possess that make you the most qualified person for the job?
I started in the Winona Lake Clerk-Treasurer Office in January 2017 part-time working as the accounts receivable clerk, helping with the monthly bank reconciliation and record keeping. I worked under the previous clerk-treasurer, Kent Adams.
Kent passed away on Dec. 19, 2021. The Winona Lake Precinct Committee members elected me to fill the vacancy of his term. There were two other candidates that ran for this position. I was elected by the committee because of my experience in the office and previous government experience. I was sworn in Jan. 16, 2022, to fill the remainder of Kent’s term.
I have 28 years of experience working with Kosciusko County Government in the courthouse. For 13 of those years, I was the elected county assessor responsible for the assessing of all residential, agricultural and commercial/Industrial properties in the county. I was secretary for the Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals. The PTABOA board oversaw all local taxpayer appeals on their assessments.
During my time as assessor, the State of Indiana transitioned to a market value state.
I have worked with setting budgets and making sure that we were fiscally responsible for the spending of taxpayer’s dollars. I have always attended the State Board of Accounts training, Department of Local Government Finance educational/training to learn about the details and responsibilities to better learn/implement the best practices for myself, staff, and the office.
2. What are some of the things the town clerk-treasurer is responsible for and how much experience do you have in handling those things?
The clerk-treasurer is the elected chief fiscal officer of the town and is responsible for handling the accounting, collection, and distribution of funds and all financial matters pertaining to the town. The clerk-treasurer is also charged with the safekeeping of ordinances, resolutions, contracts, council minutes, investments and any other municipal record.
My previous experience in the office for the last five years and my 28 years working in the county assessor’s office working with state requirements of reports to the Department of Local Government Finance. I have always attended the State Board of Accounts training, Department of Local Government Finance educational/training to learn about the details and responsibilities to better learn/implement the best practices. I was the accounts receivable clerk, helping with the bank reconciliation, typing up council minutes, and storage of documents such as ordinances, resolutions, contracts, investments and other municipal records.
3. If elected, what would be your goals for the clerk-treasurer’s office for the next four years and how would you like to accomplish those goals?
I want to continue to have an open-door policy, always willing to help anyone that calls or comes into the town hall. We strive to be a welcoming office for anyone that needs assistance with payments, questions or any concerns in the community.
Last year we implemented a new payment system that offers more flexibility for customers to pay utility payment, building permits, parking tickets, park rentals and pay for park programs. We will continue to attend any educational/training to learn to always improve the functionality of the office.
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Following are the responses given by Winona Lake incumbent Clerk-Treasurer Laurie Renier.
1. What expertise and skills do you possess that make you the most qualified person for the job?
I started in the Winona Lake Clerk-Treasurer Office in January 2017 part-time working as the accounts receivable clerk, helping with the monthly bank reconciliation and record keeping. I worked under the previous clerk-treasurer, Kent Adams.
Kent passed away on Dec. 19, 2021. The Winona Lake Precinct Committee members elected me to fill the vacancy of his term. There were two other candidates that ran for this position. I was elected by the committee because of my experience in the office and previous government experience. I was sworn in Jan. 16, 2022, to fill the remainder of Kent’s term.
I have 28 years of experience working with Kosciusko County Government in the courthouse. For 13 of those years, I was the elected county assessor responsible for the assessing of all residential, agricultural and commercial/Industrial properties in the county. I was secretary for the Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals. The PTABOA board oversaw all local taxpayer appeals on their assessments.
During my time as assessor, the State of Indiana transitioned to a market value state.
I have worked with setting budgets and making sure that we were fiscally responsible for the spending of taxpayer’s dollars. I have always attended the State Board of Accounts training, Department of Local Government Finance educational/training to learn about the details and responsibilities to better learn/implement the best practices for myself, staff, and the office.
2. What are some of the things the town clerk-treasurer is responsible for and how much experience do you have in handling those things?
The clerk-treasurer is the elected chief fiscal officer of the town and is responsible for handling the accounting, collection, and distribution of funds and all financial matters pertaining to the town. The clerk-treasurer is also charged with the safekeeping of ordinances, resolutions, contracts, council minutes, investments and any other municipal record.
My previous experience in the office for the last five years and my 28 years working in the county assessor’s office working with state requirements of reports to the Department of Local Government Finance. I have always attended the State Board of Accounts training, Department of Local Government Finance educational/training to learn about the details and responsibilities to better learn/implement the best practices. I was the accounts receivable clerk, helping with the bank reconciliation, typing up council minutes, and storage of documents such as ordinances, resolutions, contracts, investments and other municipal records.
3. If elected, what would be your goals for the clerk-treasurer’s office for the next four years and how would you like to accomplish those goals?
I want to continue to have an open-door policy, always willing to help anyone that calls or comes into the town hall. We strive to be a welcoming office for anyone that needs assistance with payments, questions or any concerns in the community.
Last year we implemented a new payment system that offers more flexibility for customers to pay utility payment, building permits, parking tickets, park rentals and pay for park programs. We will continue to attend any educational/training to learn to always improve the functionality of the office.
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