FAYETTEVILLE -- Washington County Treasurer Bobby Hill, a Republican, will face Zane Chenault, a Democrat, at the polls this election.
The Treasurer's Office handles county revenue from local, state and federal agencies and distributes money to taxing entities, including school districts. The office's duties also include investing county money and estimating revenue for the Quorum Court's budgeting process. Much of what the office does is state mandated.
Bobby Hill (R)
(incumbent)
Age: 51
Residency: Has lived in Washington County 24 years.
Employment: 21 years in Treasurer’s Office.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Central Arkansas.
Elected office: Two terms as Washington County treasurer.
Zane Chenault (D)
Age: 55
Residency: Has lived in Washington County since 2015.
Employment: Business manager, Arkansas Economic Development Commission.
Education: Bachelor of science degree in computer science from Arkansas State University.
Elected office: None.
"The number one duty is making sure the taxpayers' money is safe and secure," Hill said. For instance, Hill said he has dedicated a computer to be used solely for banking. He teamed with the county's Information Technology Department to amp up this security, and it cost taxpayers nothing, he said.
"If you go on the open market, it can be tens of thousands of dollars," he said. Hill is finishing his second two-year term in office.
Chenault thinks the role of treasurer should expand beyond ensuring the office fulfills its basic functions, he said.
Chenault would work on monthly and quarterly financial reviews with an action plan and provide updates to taxpayers on how the county is rebuilding reserves, he said. He added he would ensure all financial information is easily accessible on the county website.
Chenault said his work in the private sector managing multimillion dollar contracts and in the public sector in development would translate well into the treasurer's office.
He said the county needs to have a long-term plan.
"If we as a county don't know what we are going to do 20 years from now, then how do we know what decisions to make now in terms of infrastructure, education, crime prevention," Chenault said.
The 2020 census will cause an estimated $1.5 million loss to the budget because more people have moved into the cities than into the unincorporated areas of the county, meaning a smaller share of sales tax revenue will go to the county. This is something the office must prepare for, according to both candidates.
"In order to get ahead of that problem, that's something we need to be talking about today. Actually, we needed to be talking about a year and a half to two years ago in terms of preparing budgets and looking at expenses," Chenault said.
It will take the county five years to recover, and it's just going to be that way, Hill said.
"I can advise the Quorum Court and other elected officials on what's coming," Hill said. "My role is my budget. That doesn't mean I can't give advice, but sometimes you have to stay in your own lane."
The county treasurer earns $103,531 annually, which is based on state law and Hill's experience.
The election is Nov. 6. Early voting begins Monday.
NW News on 10/18/2018