Mille Lacs County Auditor-Treasurer: Philip Thompson

The office of County Auditor-Treasurer is an elected position, whose responsibilities are subject to various Minnesota State Statutes. The Auditor-Treasurer is the chief financial officer for the county, and traditionally has been responsible for many of the administrative duties as well. The responsibilities of the Auditor-Treasurer are broken into five (5) major areas:

General Administration

Property Tax Administration

Financial Administration

Election Administration

Miscellaneous

General Administration

The Auditor-Treasurer’s Office is responsible for the preparation of the payroll for all county employees. Included in the payroll responsibilities are the payment of all payroll taxes, insurance premiums, and pension benefits.

Property Tax Administration

Each taxing district within the county must certify a tax levy and special assessments to the County Auditor-Treasurer. The Auditor-Treasurer tabulates all of these levies and special assessments and then calculates the amount of real estate, personal property, and mobile home tax to be paid by each property owner in the county, based on the valuations certified to the Auditor-Treasurer by the County Assessor. Upon completion of the calculation of the tax, statements are distributed to all taxpayers indicating the amount of tax due and the due date.

After each tax deadline, the Auditor-Treasurer must reconcile all collections for accuracy and pay out to each taxing district their appropriate share of the taxes collected. State Statutes specify when these payments must be made. All real estate transactions for property located in the county are processed through the Auditor-Treasurer's Office, to collect either deed tax or mortgage registry tax, and to make changes to the ownership of property. The Auditor-Treasurer's Office maintains the ownership records in the tax system daily or as needed. Mille Lacs County has approximately 20,000 tax parcels. After the beginning of the new year, the Auditor-Treasurer publishes a list of delinquent taxes in the official paper of the county. Upon request, the Auditor-Treasurer certifies under the seal of his office, indicating thereon whether taxes are paid or unpaid.

Tax Forfeited Parcel Information

• Financial Administration
  
  The Auditor-Treasurer assists in preparing the budget each year. Once the budget is approved by the County Board the Auditor-Treasurer begins the process of calculating the real estate, personal property, and mobile home taxes that will be collected to provide the funding for the approved budget.
  
  The Auditor-Treasurer also operates and maintains an accounting system that provides a detailed accounting of the following for the General Revenue and Ditch Funds of the County:
  
  • Receipts
  • Disbursements
  • Accounts Receivable and Payable
  • Ditch System
  • Annual Financial Statement
  
  The Auditor-Treasurer also maintains a summary accounting of the Road & Bridge and Welfare Funds. The detailed accounting of these funds is carried out by the individual departments. Each month the Auditor-Treasurer prepares a trial balance to provide the historic checks and balances. The Auditor-Treasurer must also reconcile all checking accounts monthly as part of month end processing. The Auditor-Treasurer works closely with the State Auditor's Office in the preparation of the annual audit and financial statement.
  
  In addition to the accounting process, the County Auditor-Treasurer maintains the cash management and investment function. Surplus funds are to be invested pursuant to Minnesota Statutes. Income derived from these types of investments is used to reduce the tax levy each year.
  
  Election Administration
  
  The Auditor-Treasurer is designated by the Secretary of State as Registrar of Voters, and chief custodian of official voter registration and election records. The Auditor-Treasurer is responsible for conducting the primary and general election during the even numbered years, as well as any special county-wide elections. The Auditor-Treasurer is responsible for training election judges and officials, printing ballots, acting as filing officer for county races, distributing absentee ballots to those who will be unable to vote on election day, and tabulating the election results from the 25 precincts in the county. The Auditor-Treasurer is also a member of the Canvass Board. The Canvass Board meets shortly after the election to review for accuracy the results of the election and to declare a winner.
   
  Miscellaneous
  
  The Auditor-Treasurer is responsible for issuing liquor, wine, beer, tobacco, auctioneer, dance, transient merchant, game and fish licenses.
  
  The Auditor-Treasurer is a member of the Extension Committee, and serves as the Secretary.
  
  The Auditor/Treasurer is a member, by MN Statute, of the County Board of Equalization.
  
  To assist the Auditor-Treasurer in carrying out these tasks, six (6) Deputy Auditor-Treasurers have been appointed by the Auditor-Treasurer. As an elected official, the County Auditor-Treasurer is responsible directly to the people of Mille Lacs County for the duties of Auditor-Treasurer. The Auditor-Treasurer and staff are dedicated to serving the citizens of Mille Lacs County by offering the best possible service in all aspects of the assigned duties.
  
  The Auditor-Treasurer's Office is located on the main floor of the Mille Lacs County Courthouse in Milaca, Minnesota.

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Deputies:

• Karen Mathison
• Laurie Tinklenberg
• Lisa Sjodin-Heckenlaible
• Nancy Eibes
• Tammie Gotvald