|
| |
|
|
|
Staff |
Kathy Schreurs - Auditor
Deb Vierhuf - Deputy Auditor
Joan Klitzke - Deputy Auditor
Chuck DeBates - Financial
Accountant
Phone: 507-694-1529
Fax:
507-694-1198
|
|
What We Do
Quick Links:
General
Administration
Financial
Administration
Election
Administration
Property Tax Administration
Miscellaneous
|
The office of the County Auditor is an
elected position, whose responsibilities are subject to various Minnesota
State Statutes. The Auditor has traditionally been responsible for many of
the administrative duties. |
|
General Administration |
The Auditor serves as the
clerk to the County Board. This includes the scheduling of appointments to
meet with the Board, preparation of Agendas and minutes of all meetings. A
summary of the minutes
from Board meetings is published in the official paper of the County.
The Auditor also is a member of the Extension Committee and serves as the
Secretary.
Other administrative functions include the preparation and maintenance
of employee files for all employee benefits both employer paid and
employee paid. The Auditor is also 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.
|
|
Financial Administration |
The Auditor is responsible
for preparing and submitting to the County Board for approval the budget
for the next year. Once the budget is approved by the County Board, the
Auditor then begins the process of calculating the Real Estate, Personal
Property, and Mobile Home taxes that will be collected to provide funding
for the approved budget.
The Auditor 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 Statements
The Auditor also maintains a summary accounting of the Road &
Bridge Funds. The detailed accounting of these funds is carried out by the
individual departments. The Auditor works closely with the State Auditor's
Office in the preparation of the annual audit and financial statement. The
Auditor periodically submits to the County Board the financial status of
the County, future financial needs, and projections as needed.
|
|
Election Administration |
Election & Voting Information from the
Secretary of
State's Office:
Register to
Vote:
Absentee Voting You can vote by absentee ballot if you are unable
to vote in person on Election Day because you are:
Note: The easiest way to vote
by absentee ballot is to do so in person, at your county auditor or city
or township clerk’s office, up to 30 days prior to Election Day.
The Auditor is designated by
the Secretary of State as Register of Voters and chief custodian of
official voter registration and election records. The Auditor is
responsible for conducting the primary and general election during the
even numbered years and also any special countywide elections. The Auditor
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, tabulating
the election results from the 20 precincts in the County. The Auditor 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.
|
|
Property Tax
Administration |
Each taxing district within
the County must certify a tax levy and special assessments to the County
Auditor. The Auditor tabulates all of these levies and special assessments
and then calculates the amount of real estate, personal and mobile home
tax will be paid by each property owner in the County based on the
valuations certified to the Auditor 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 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's Office either to collect deed or mortgage
registry tax, or to make changes to the ownership of the property. The
Auditor's Office maintains the ownership records in the tax system daily
or as needed. Lincoln County has approximately 6726 tax parcels. After the
beginning of the new year the Auditor publishes a list of delinquent taxes
in the official paper of the County. Upon request, the Auditor certifies
under the seal of her office indicating thereon whether taxes are paid or
unpaid.
|
|
Miscellaneous |
The Auditor is responsible
for issuing liquor, wine, 3.2 malt liquor, tobacco, auctioneer, dance and transient
merchant licenses.
The Auditor is a member by statute of the county board of
equalization.
To assist the Auditor in carrying out these tasks,
3 Deputy
Auditors have been appointed by the Auditor. As an elected official, the
County Auditor is responsible directly to the people of Lincoln County for
the duties of Auditor. The Auditor and staff are dedicated to serving the
citizens of Lincoln County by offering the best possible service in all
aspects of the assigned duties.
|
| |
|
