Bill Hullander expects the staffing changes he plans to make within the Hamilton County Trustee’s Office will save the county almost $100,000.
Hullander, who takes over Sept. 1, said the two main changes he will make are eliminating the assistant trustee position, held by Dawn Patton, and hiring a full-time back-tax attorney, a previously contracted position.
“One of the things I wanted to do as a trustee was save some money for the taxpayers,” said Hullander, who is finishing out his term as Hamilton County’s District 9 commissioner.
The incoming trustee said he would create a new position to replace the assistant trustee, only the new hire “will be making a whole lot less.” Patton’s salary is $82,778, records show. Hullander said the individual who replaces Patton will make about $40,000.
Some of the assistant trustee’s workload also will be redistributed throughout the office, Hullander said.
He said Patton will have the opportunity to find other employment within Hamilton County.
Patton, who started at the office in 2002, said she “doesn’t have anything lined up,” but she would like to still work for the county.
“I love my county family. If (another county office) will have me, I’d love to stay,” she said.
The current back-tax attorney, Terry McGhehey, is not a county employee and is paid a 4 percent commission on all taxes collected.
Those commissions have totaled as high as $190,000 annually, Hullander said. The new full-time attorney, James Davey, will be paid a salary of $87,500.
Outgoing trustee Carl Levi has defended a commission-based attorney in the past, saying in 2006: “When a man’s working on commission, he’s going to work harder.”
A message left with Levi was not returned.
Hullander assured that Davey will “be right on top of everything.”
McGhehey said he isn’t disappointed with Hullander’s decision, noting that new trustees replacing attorneys is “tradition.” McGhehey was hired by Levi when he assumed the trustee position in 2002.
“The changes that Mr. Hullander makes with matters in that office, I would imagine that as sharp as he is, they’ll be good decisions,” he said.
Hullander said that he will also be making other staff replacements, though the assistant trustee position is the only one being eliminated.
Susan Bedwell, who has worked at the office for around 30 years, will take over as chief of staff, a newly named position, Hullander said.
Barry Brooks, the office’s bookkeeper, already has found other employment in the county after being informed a new bookkeeper will be hired, Hullander said.
He said he will announce other changes, which he hopes will also save money, after talking with other employees of the office’s 13-person staff.
Two of the new employees he said he will be bring in are Lisa Brown, who is head over the county’s payroll, and Marlie Jones, who works at the Hamilton County Clerk’s Office.
Hullander said he would be taking on Levi’s annual salary of $100,771. He said he will be keeping true to campaign promises regarding the allowance of partial tax payments and extending trustee office hours.