opinion

Wisconsin state treasurer an important check on Gov. Scott Walker's executive power

On April 3, voters head to the polls to decide a number of important elections for public office. But there will also be a question on the ballot about amending the state constitution.

That question is the result of a sustained effort to get rid of the office of state treasurer and the election Matt Adamczyk, the current treasurer, who ran on a platform of eliminating his own job, something that certainly had a novel appeal for fans of budget tightening.

He’s made good on his promise. Upon taking office, Adamczyk immediately fired two other employees that had been working in the office, claiming they were a “waste of taxpayer money and no longer needed.”

The argument goes that the treasurer has no real powers or duties and is, therefore, a drain on taxpayer money. A recent report noted that the treasurer's office has gone from a staff of 24 and a budget of $4.4 million 20 years ago to one staff member and a budget of $227,000 today.

It’s true that the office has been rendered nearly powerless. Originally, the office served as the chief banker for the state, promoting the unclaimed property program, safekeeping of securities purchased by the state, administration of the College Savings Program and College Tuition Program (known as EdVest), and even making certified copies of deeds, bonds, and documents filed to the office.

In the 1990s, the Legislature and Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson began to remove most of those duties, transferring them to other state agencies, such as Department of Revenue and Department of Administration. Almost all that remains is a position on the Board of Commissioners of Public Land, which oversees a $1 billion state trust fund that supports schools, public libraries, technical colleges and local governments. It’s worth noting that the board and its loan authority, often the only money available to school and public libraries for purchasing materials, also has been targeted for elimination.

At first blush, then, it looks like this would be a good time to just get rid of the treasurer, transfer the remaining responsibilities to someone else (the amendment proposes the lt. governor) and save the state a little cash.

But recent statements by a former state treasurer caught my eye. Jack Voight was a Republican who served in the office from 1995-2007. According to Voight, it’s crucial that we not only maintain the office but seriously consider restoring some or all of its duties.

“The value of the office is priceless,” Voight told Isthmus. “It’s so very important to have checks and balances. This is a power grab that’s been years in the making.” In comparing the governor to the chief executive officer of a business, Voight likens this move to also making the governor the chief financial officer.

The treasurer can help prevent the executive branch from siphoning off too much fiscal authority so regardless of the person occupying the governor’s office at any given time, the treasurer ought to serve as a check on the chief executive's power.

According to the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, “Wisconsin is one of just two states where the treasurer is not currently responsible for banking services and the only state in which the treasurer is not responsible for cash management.” That should raise some eyebrows.

Given recent and sometimes serious accounting hiccups at the DOA, it makes sense to maintain a separate, independent office to keep tabs on public funds. Even better that it be an office without a close ally of the governor at its head.

Transparent, accountable oversight of public funds is a crucial safeguard against the potential of waste and corruption. Wisconsin appears to be going the opposite direction with the dismantling of the state treasurer’s Office.

Emily Mills is a freelance writer who lives in Madison. Twitter: @millbot; Email: emily.mills@outlook.com