Kane finance committee to explore ethics of seeking financial advice

The Kane County Board may have a new panel of financial experts chiming in with advice in 2011 as it tries to avoid another year of deficit spending.

New Finance Committee Chairman Jim Mitchell announced Tuesday that he wants County Treasurer David Rickert, Auditor Bill Keck and Finance Director Cheryl Pattelli to brainstorm ideas with each other about how to keep the county firmly in the black. Mitchell said Rickert, Keck and Pattelli have financial education and expertise beyond most members of the board, and it should be tapped for valuable suggestions.

But county board member Cathy Hurlbut may put a cork in that tap before it ever starts flowing. Hurlbut said she believes involving the triad of experts in the budget any more than they currently are may be illegal or ethically wrong.

“I'm real concerned that our auditor being involved in our budget process might be a conflict,” Hurlbut said to Mitchell. “The same goes for our treasurer. I don't know that I want other elected officials involved in our statutory responsibility.”

Mitchell said he sees no harm in asking for financial advice about cutting expenses.

“They're not going to tell us what to do, and we do it automatically,” Mitchell said. “I think it makes more sense to use some of our experts. They have no authority other than to sit down and brainstorm. You can reject all of their recommendations if you want.”

Hurlbut said she wants County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay to weigh in on using the experts before any actual brainstorming occurs.

Mitchell's idea received support from county board member Phil Lewis. He said he hopes Rickert, Keck and Pattelli already feel they can, and should, come to the board with any financial advice. However, he saw nothing wrong with formally asking for such advice.

The situation may be resolved soon since the committee is slated to meet later this month.