Auditor
Karl Keith (D) |
Harry Bossey (R) |
Bio: I have an extensive background in government finance and public administration. I am a Certified Cash Manager with a B.A. from Ashland College and a Master’s degree from Miami University. I began my career as a state examiner in the county/township audits division for the Ohio Auditor of State, where I subsequently served eight years in the Montgomery County Treasurer’s Office first as fiscal systems analyst and later as assistant treasurer for cash management. I was appointed chief deputy auditor in 1991, a position I held for over nine years prior to my appointment as auditor. Given my attention to detail and leadership as a public servant, I have been a past president of the County Auditors’ Association of Ohio and was named the Association’s Outstanding County Auditor in 2012. I also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ohio Government Finance Officers Association in 2016. |
Bio: I am a small business owner in the Dayton area for over 25 years; and have lived in Montgomery County for more than 32 years. I have been very active in numerous community activities and have served on the board of directors and committees of professional and civic organizations on state, national and international levels. |
What do you view as the most important duty of county auditor? The central responsibility of the County Auditor is to protect consumers and county tax dollars and ensure that the county’s financial systems and services are transparent and accurate. Serving as both the chief fiscal officer and chief assessor for the county, the Auditor is responsible for the county’s financial records, consumer protection at scales and gas pumps, and determining property values for taxing purposes, along with other services. For example, there has been a growing threat of illegal credit card skimmers being placed inside gas pumps in Montgomery County to steal credit card information from consumers. As the county’s chief sealer of weights and measures, the auditor is in a unique position to combat this crime. I have been a statewide leader in the effort to address this threat, collaborating with fellow county auditors as well as federal investigators to address this illegal activity in Ohio. |
What do you view as the most important duty of county auditor? The two most important issues facing the auditor’s office are 1) property assessment and fairness process, and 2) modernization of the county computer system. Property Assessment and Fairness Process - The County Auditor should have an established and transparent process of selection of county property assessors and evaluate their performance on an on-going basis to ensure impartiality - including periodic audits of non-staff assessors to ensure compliance with established rules, practices, and contracts with attitude towards fairness to county residents and property owners. Modernization of County Computer Systems - The Auditor is also the manager of the county computer systems. As the leader of the Data Processing Board, the Auditor’s office needs a professional with a real understanding of information technology. In this role, the Auditor can take the lead in moving the county to a more transparent and friendly government organization; thus increasing access to auditor data and reducing resident tax appeals. |
What experiences have you had to prepare you for this position? In a public service career that spans more than 35 years, I have an extensive background in government finance and public administration. Having worked in the county auditor’s office since 1991, and serving as County Auditor since 2000, I am uniquely qualified to lead this key local office. I have directed numerous initiatives that have improved services in county government to increase access for residents, and I continue to be a leader in promoting the use of new technology and innovation in my responsibilities as auditor. I am active in the local community and always strive for community input with the duties of the auditor’s office, receiving national awards for the past two years in a row for our civic engagement efforts. I have a proven track record of effective and responsible public service and will continue to do so for the benefit of the residents of Montgomery County. |
What experiences have you had to prepare you for this position? My unique background and experiences, all earned in the private sector, qualify me to be the next Montgomery County Auditor, and allows me to provide guidance to all facets of county operations - I am a small business owner, have been a CPA for over 31 years, worked with an internationally recognized accounting firm (Deloitte), and have a very diverse background and experience in various industries, including real estate. |