County treasurer plans to attend Hawaii conference
Jeannine Bateman, Marion County treasurer, wants to attend the National Association of Counties conference as she has the past several years. She's concerned how the public will perceive her attending the summer conference in Hawaii.
Bateman is a member of the National Association of County Treasurers and Finance Officers (NACTFO), and is a state director with the organization.
She has attended national conferences in Phoenix, New Orleans, and Philadelphia.
In 2001, she was the national president of the NACTFO when the conference was held in Philadelphia.
County taxpayers didn't pay for her expenses because of her position with the national organization.
Bateman said she anticipates the cost of the convention in Honolulu to be less than the trip to Philadelphia.
"The Kansas Association of County Treasurers are able to get reduced airfare for $500 (per person) for a round trip," Bateman explained.
She plans to share a hotel room with another county treasurer at a total cost of $160 per night.
The association also will provide $1,000 to Bateman for expenses as one of two state directors.
Other expenses are $415 for the convention, in addition to meals, transportation, and time away from the office.
The county previously has paid $700-$900 of Bateman's expenses for national conferences.
"The treasurer's meetings are three days before the main convention," Bateman said, and are worth the time and expense.
Being the only county representative at national conventions, she visits vendors and picks up information for different departments in the county.
"I've brought back information about jails (for the sheriff), electronic voting information (for the clerk), and I first learned about the treasurer's office providing driver's licenses," Bateman said.
Bateman said she has completed all state certification classes and programs. Classes for national certification are offered during the national conference which is another reason for attending.
"I've brought back lots of ideas from the convention," Bateman said.
A fund within the treasurer's budget is set by state statute, and the commission has no control over it.
Overall, the commission is responsible for the county's budget and expenses. However, elected officials are not directly supervised by the commission.
The Marion County Record was contacted by numerous county employees who were concerned about the possibility of tax dollars being spent for trips to Hawaii.
The employees, who asked not to be identified, did not think it was fair for county funds to be used for these trips that may marginally benefit the county when county employees have not been adequately compensated with cost of living and merit raises due to budget cutbacks.
The Hawaiian convention has sparked controversy in other counties as well.
Reno County commissioners are attending the convention under much public outcry which resulted in one commissioner agreeing to pay for everything except the $415 conference fee.
The Hawaiian conference and exposition is slated for July 15-19.
The conference provides seminars on budgeting, leadership, and county government.
Vendors participate in the exposition by providing information to participants about new products and services related to all areas of county business.
Marion County is a member of the state and national associations of counties.
