UPDATED 2:14 p.m.
PEORIA, Ill. — The Peoria County Board’s Executive Committee is moving forward a potential election referendum question to to decide whether to remove the county’s elected auditor’s position.
Board Vice Chair Jim Fennell told 25 News, with current technology, the elected auditor’s position has become redundant and is costing taxpayers money.
“In the 12 years that I’ve been on technology has improved so much that with the processes and procedures that we have in place we do not need the internal auditor it’s a duplication of efforts,” Fennell said.
The county also employs an external auditor.
Others including Thomas have said the elected auditor’s office is necessary – particularly in keeping checks and balances within Peoria’s government.
“I think it’s a very slippery slope to have the folks who are responsible for spending the money also appointing the person who is responsible for keeping them accountable to the money that they’re spending,” said activist and concerned voter Chama St. Louis, to 25 News.
The proposal goes to the full county board for approval. Similar referendum questions in the past have failed.
