York County commissioners support eliminating elected treasurer position | County Report
York County Voters to Decide Fate of Elected Treasurer Post on Nov. 3
In a decision that could reshape county financial oversight, voters in York County will choose whether to eliminate the part‑time, elected treasurer position and appoint a treasurer instead. The ballot question appears alongside a separate proposal to elect a new treasurer, with former officeholder Bobby Mills as the only candidate.
The county’s commissioners have long argued that the elected treasurer role is no longer necessary. “Our (annual) budget is north of $25 million, we need professional expertise to manage that amount of money,” said Commissioner Richard Clark during a September 16 meeting. Clark added that the part‑time elected position “doesn’t speak to … efficiency, skills, financial management or understanding of budgets.”
York County’s financial history provides context for the proposal. In late 2006 and early 2007, a $1.2 million fund‑balance deficit was uncovered, attributed to accounting errors and a lack of timely audits. At the time, the county was “basically bankrupt” (Richard Dutremble, Commission Chair), prompting the hiring of a professional finance director and the creation of a finance staff that now handles investment decisions and budget preparation. “We took the bull by the horns and set up a finance director position,” Dutremble recalled. “The (elected) treasurer’s position was obsolete.”
Since then, the county’s finances have improved markedly. Audits conducted by RHR Smith & Co. have received an “A” grade, the firm’s highest opinion. Managing Partner Ron Smith explained to the commissioners in August that the county had not triggered any audit‑related problems. “None of that happened in the County of York,” he said.
Commissioners note that the state law for an appointed treasurer requires expertise in business administration and finance, whereas the law for an elected treasurer only requires that the person be a county resident. “Is it really an extra set of eyes?” asked County Manager Greg Zinser. “And just as important, the county has developed the finance director approach.”
The referendum on the November ballot follows an earlier attempt in 2018 that was rejected by voters. In that earlier vote, some residents felt an elected treasurer provided a safeguard over county finances. Since that time, the county’s elected treasurer salary was cut to $500 annually, starting in 2018, and the post has become effectively part‑time.
The current treasurer, Democrat Stacy Kilroy, was appointed in May 2024 by Gov. Janet Mills after the resignation of former treasurer Bobby Mills. Her term ends on Dec. 31. Mills, who was also the only name on the ballot to elect a new treasurer, is a Democrat who ran for the post in this election cycle.
Maine’s election officials have clarified the legal ramifications if the referendum passes. “If voters approve the abolition, whoever is elected would have no office to serve in,” Deputy Secretary of State Julie Flynn said in an email. The referendum’s approval would trigger a county commission appointment of a treasurer, likely from the existing finance staff or county administration.
York County is not alone in considering the move. Franklin and Washington counties also face a similar ballot question on Nov. 3. Cumberland, Androscoggin, and Knox counties currently appoint their treasurers.
Commissioner Robert Andrews summed up the sentiment among some county officials: “It seems like our county has outgrown the need for the (elected) treasurer’s position. It’s an unnecessary position at this time, and in our best interest to streamline and eliminate that position.”
The outcome of the November vote will decide whether the elected treasurer position is replaced by an appointed professional with financial expertise or whether the county retains the traditional, resident‑only office. Residents are invited to weigh in on a long‑debated question that could shape how York County manages its $25 million‑plus budget.
