Hello, my name is Dave Benson and I am seeking Re-Election to the position of Clerk-Treasurer. I have served the citizens of Crown Point since the summer of 1986 and have experience in four City Departments. I grew up in Merrillville and became a Crown Point homeowner in 1992 where I currently reside with my wife Donna and our two adult daughters.
The most important responsibilities of this Office of the Clerk-Treasurer are to ensure all monies are collected and secured in the City’s various funds. Invoices are to be paid with the City’s legislative body’s approval in a timely manner every month. Payroll needs to be uninterrupted and provided for our 225 full-time and additional part-time city employees. Categorized records are to be collected and preserved within the City Archives.
My top three priorities if Re-Elected as Clerk-Treasurer are to continue the improvements in technology already accomplished during my first term. We will also continue to excel our office’s talented staff members with provided in service training by The Indiana State board of Accounts, The Indiana Association of Municipal Clerks and Treasurers, The International Institute of Municipal Clerks and The Association of Public Treasurers of the United States and Canada. We will also be continuing to apply our Cross Training Principle. With my leadership, I will also continue to oversee a healthy work environment among Office Staff, with the entire City Team and the Public.
For records management experience, I performed administrative duty as training coordinator for the Police Department for 17 years. With this past assigned duty, I oversaw two budgeted line items as well as maintained training documentation. With this, I had to prepare and submit an Annual Training Report for every officer in the Police Department to the Indiana law Enforcement Training Board. As Clerk-Treasurer for the past three years, I had to memorialize meetings in minute form for legislative bi-monthly Board of Public Works and Safety meetings and monthly City Council meetings. I also took part in the preparation of the City Annual Financial Report.
As City Clerk-Treasurer for the past three years, I played a major part in four multimillion-dollar budget cycles. During this time, I achieved the accreditations of Indiana Accredited Municipal Clerk (IAMC) through the Indiana Association of Municipal Clerks and Treasurers, Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) through the International Institute of Municipal Clerks and Certified Public Funds Investment Manager (CPFIM) through the Association of Public Treasurers of the United States and Canada.
Due to our city utilizing Federal Grants, all functions of our office undergo a thorough audit by the Indiana State Board of Accounts every year. This State Authority not only provides transparency for our office but also provides us with the necessary in-service training. They are always there for guidance when needed.
Thank you for your consideration on November 7th.