York County voters could abolish treasurer position in November

York County Voters to Decide Whether to Abolish Elected Treasurer Position

In a November ballot question, residents of York County will decide if the county’s part‑time elected treasurer should be eliminated and replaced with an appointed position, a change that officials argue would professionalize the budget process.

In the run‑up to the 2026 general election, York County is preparing to put a controversial governance issue before its voters. The county’s 2018 ballot question, which asked whether the elected treasurer should be abolished, was rejected by a 70‑percent margin. This fall, the same question will appear again, but with the stakes higher: if voters approve, the county would appoint a treasurer instead of electing one.

The debate has centered on whether the office, which currently offers a $500 annual stipend for a part‑time role, adds value beyond what the county’s existing finance staff already perform. County commissioners, led by Chair Richard Dutremble, say the position is “obsolete” and merely a formality. In contrast, the current treasurer, Stacy Kilroy, who will not run again, contends the office provides public oversight and prevents the county manager from consolidating too much control.

A Role That Began With Purpose

York County created a full‑time finance director position in early 2007 after audits uncovered a $1.2 million shortfall in the county’s fund balance. Since then, the county’s finances have stabilized and earned an “A” rating from its auditing firm, which now audits the county three times a year. The county also has a four‑person finance team that reports to the county manager and oversees day‑to‑day budget operations.

The treasurer’s statutory duties are limited. The office is required by state law, but the law does not prescribe specific financial qualifications. According to Chair Dutremble, once the finance director and department were established, the treasurer’s responsibilities lost practical value. “The treasurer’s position now in county government is obsolete,” he said. “It’s just a formality so they can sign papers and stuff like that.” He added that the budget approval process remains unchanged, involving the county manager, the commissioners, and the elected budget committee.

Competing Views on Oversight

The current treasurer, Stacy Kilroy, was appointed by Governor Janet Mills in 2024 to serve out the term of former treasurer Bobby Mills, a former Biddeford City Councilor. Kilroy is not seeking a second term. She maintains that finance and treasury are distinct functions: “Finance and treasury are two completely different subjects,” she said. She also believes the treasurer provides a layer of public oversight that would be lost if the office were appointed. “The county budget could be done on a cocktail napkin,” she told reporters, “but this is just a way for the county manager to gain control of a position so that nobody is looking at the various county commissioners.”

On the other side, County Manager Gregory Zinser echoes Dutremble’s view that an appointment would bring professional qualifications to the role. He and the commissioners argue the $500 stipend is minimal compared to the nearly $100,000 salary paid to the full‑time deputy treasurer, and that the county could save money by eliminating the part‑time role. Commissioner Justin Chenette, the sole commissioner opposing the referendum, warned that the change would reduce public agency and oversight. “I’m unclear what has changed between the last referendum and this fall to warrant more taxpayer money going towards a referendum that no one asked for,” Chenette said. “Instead, we really need to be looking at ways of making the county treasurer role more effective in the community.”

Candidate and Campaign

Bobby Mills is the only candidate listed for the treasurer position on the November ballot. Mills is running for a non‑consecutive term and has stated that the primary motivation is to “save taxpayers money.” He has criticized the $500 stipend as “ludicrous,” noting that the county already has a deputy treasurer in a full‑time role. Mills proposes eliminating that full‑time position and performing those duties under the part‑time stipend. “It’s not about money. It’s about serving the people,” he said.

If the referendum passes, Mills’ campaign will become moot, as the county would appoint a treasurer internally and the position would no longer be elected. The county’s commissioners are largely in agreement on the change, with four of the five commissioners supporting it.

Maine‑Wide Context

York County is not alone in this debate. Franklin and Washington counties also have referendum questions on the ballot that ask whether to replace their elected treasurers with appointed officials. Androscoggin, Cumberland and Knox counties already appoint their treasurers, while all counties in Maine must have a treasurer under state law. The exception allows a county to abolish the elected position only if voters approve the change.

In 2018, when York County first approved the same referendum question, voters rejected it by a wide margin. Chair Dutremble believes the earlier failure stemmed from a lack of clear explanation of the treasurer’s statutory role and its relevance to county finances. He contends that the current lack of public awareness has contributed to the ongoing debate.

What the Decision Means

If voters approve the referendum, the treasurer would no longer be elected but appointed by the county commissioners. The appointed treasurer would presumably have professional finance qualifications, and the county would still maintain its existing finance director and audit structure. Supporters say the change will streamline governance, reduce redundancy, and keep the county’s finances in line with best practices. Opponents warn that the change could diminish public oversight and consolidate power in the hands of county officials.

The final outcome will be determined on November 3, 2026. Residents of York County will decide whether the county’s part‑time treasurer remains an elected office, a symbol of public accountability, or whether it should be replaced by a professional appointment that could potentially improve the efficiency of the county’s financial management.