Columns missed big picture on prosecutor's office

Bianchi is the McHenry County state's attorney.

Recently, two articles by the same columnist have been critical of the use of the state's attorney's petty cash account and reimbursed expenses. I believe these articles are misleading. Let me begin by stating that every dollar spent by this office is substantiated by receipt and becomes an audited expenditure of our budget. Two points must be clarified:

1 The petty cash account functions as an operating account.

2. Since 2005, I have repeatedly requested an office credit card for these expenses.

It was reported that since I took office approximately $60,000 was spent from those accounts. What was not reported was that of that figure, $43,000 was used for expert witnesses, transportation for witnesses, travel expenses at required seminars, vehicle registration fees, etc. These are routine expenses necessary for the daily operations of any prosecutor's office.

The remaining $17,000 ($6,000 per year) was spent for over 50 employees on business meals and our community outreach/crime prevention programs.

Putting things in perspective, $6,000 amounts to one quarter of 1 percent of our annual office budget This is, I believe, a small investment in the employees of my office, law enforcement and the citizens of McHenry County.

The columnist focused on a small issue and overlooked the bigger picture. McHenry County citizens reaped benefits achieved by the dramatic transformation and successes of this office after placing their trust in me.

These successes include:

1. $1.5 million saved in outside counsel legal fees by assembling a Civil Division capable of handling cases that were previously referred to private attorneys. This is a savings of $10,000 per week since I took office.

2. I require attorneys to work at minimum, a 40-hour week compared to the 37½ required by my predecessor. This results each year in an additional 3,900 hours of attorneys' time in service to the citizens which comes at no additional salary cost to the taxpayers.

3. $61,000 of investigators' salaries saved through their dedication, hard work and efficient management. Moreover, we obtained the county board's approval to collect investigator service fees, providing a new revenue source for the county.

4. $43,000 returned to local businesses since March of 2007 from our new in-house check enforcement program.

5. $6.1 million possible judgment against the county avoided by receiving a favorable arbitration ruling in just one case.

The broader picture of our office is brought into better focus not just by looking at the substantial monies saved but also considering:

1. Tougher on crime. Sentences are more severe and we are taking more cases to trial. We established a special prosecution unit.

2. Established a mental health court to better address issues presented by the mentally ill.

3. Development of our community outreach/crime prevention program including:

a. Conducting 22 seminars for police and elected officials.

b. Participate in children's reading programs in our schools.

c. Participate in domestic violence programs with agencies like Turning Point.

d. Provide consumer protection and identity theft information to citizens at local expos and senior fairs.

I am ever mindful of my responsibilities to citizens of McHenry County, who placed their trust in me. Safer communities are built by individuals and they are built one child, adult and family at a time. The state's attorney's office remains committed to a persistent effort to achieve this goal.