Morgan: Efficient Government Within Reach

Editor's note: Patch invites all elected officeholders and candidates for public office to submit letters to the editor for publication. The following submission is from current Montgomery County Controller Diane Morgan. 

Dear Fellow Taxpayer:

As the first female Controller of Montgomery County, I take my role as “Fiscal Watchdog” seriously. Since 2008, I have discovered $15 million in accounting errors in the Employee Retirement Fund, and renegotiated fees saving taxpayers approximately $3 million dollars.

Despite being the 3^rd largest county in the state, we have the lowest ratio of auditors. Montgomery County has only four auditors for a budget of over $500 million. We do not have sufficient staff to audit tax collectors, municipal district justices, or business expenses such as over-time or insurance. The progress of our department has been deterred by the commissioners’ refusal to direct more oversight towards fraud, waste and duplication. 

Montgomery County is currently running a large deficit. I can significantly close that gap, given an unhampered system of checks and balances. This is why I have filed suit against the commissioners. The legal action required to make these important changes will utilize our salaried lawyers, resulting in no additional cost to the taxpayer.

I have instituted some of the same proven practices from my successful career as an entrepreneur. I have secured non-taxpayer funds to purchase new technology, posted all of the County’s financial statements on our website, digitized and indexed all of the county’s contracts which are now posted online, and enhanced the Fraud and Abuse Hotline. As a direct result, my department has consistently performed under budget, while performing 90% more audits.

I am running for re-election because I am confident that these proven practices will continue to save even more taxpayer money. With the simple addition of more professional staff and updated software, a transparent and efficient local government run more like a modern business is within our County’s reach.

I humbly ask for your vote on November 8^th.

Sincerely,

Diane B. Morgan

Montgomery County Controller