A constitutional amendment to eliminate the office of state treasurer that may be soon be headed to the floor of the Legislature has strong support from the current treasurer, who ran on a pledge to eliminate his job.
This is the seventh consecutive session that lawmakers have tried to pass the amendment. This time, Treasurer Matt Adamczyk said he’s made the plan more attractive by trimming the office’s duties to just one and cutting all of its staff.
“Because the duties of the treasurer have been moved to more efficient agencies, this is an office that is simply no longer needed,” he said. “I hope to be the last state treasurer in Wisconsin.”
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But the current Sheboygan County clerk and Calumet County treasurer testified at a hearing on the amendment Tuesday opposing the move. They fear it will create a slippery slope that will lead to local governments eliminating their elected treasurers and clerks.
Supporters say eliminating the state treasurer will save as much as $350,000. But opponents say it will deny voters the right to elect someone they can hold accountable for safeguarding the state’s finances.
The amendment must pass both houses of the Legislature in two consecutive years and then be approved by voters in a statewide referendum.
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