Treasurer’s office seeks two permanent positions for unclaimed property unit after banner claim year

Ashlyn Doan, director of policy in the state treasurer’s office, and Albert “Al” LaPerle, director of the Unclaimed Property Division, told the Senate Committee on Government Operations on March 20 they are requesting two permanent program technician positions funded from unclaimed property special funds to sustain increased claims processing and outreach.

Doan said the request — two program technician three positions paid 100% from unclaimed property funds — would cost about $201,000 annually in salary and benefits and that the division’s total budget is roughly $1.1 million. “We were hoping to provide some context and sort of an impassioned plea for these positions,” Doan told the committee.

Al LaPerle provided recent activity figures and described a surge in claims and payouts this fiscal year. He said the division has paid about 26,000 properties so far this year compared with about…