Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel Auditor Office topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Madison County supervisors approve auditor staffing‑structure changes amid public criticism over hiring
Summary
The Board of Supervisors voted to approve resolution 801.2825a, giving the newly elected auditor flexibility to change position titles. Public commenters alleged the auditor sought to hire her campaign chair; supervisors said the position funding and title decisions must be board‑approved and that temporary help remains an option.
The Madison County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 28 voted to approve changes to the staffing structure in the auditor’s office to permit the auditor flexibility in classifying positions for the current budget year.
The vote on resolution 801.2825a was moved, seconded and recorded aloud as two ayes and one nay before the motion carried. The board’s chair clarified that the resolution approves position titles and does not itself create hires or authorize wages; any hiring must adhere to the budget passed through June 30 and future budget decisions will determine permanent staffing and pay.
During public comment, several residents raised concerns about the auditor’s staffing plans. Vicky Brenner told the board that the newly elected auditor, Carrie Kaczynski, had requested hiring her campaign chair, Leslie Babb, at $29 an hour and said that approving the request without full review could raise fairness and budget questions. Brenner also raised separate concerns about county home‑health services and the speed of the office restructuring.
Other speakers urged patience and flexibility. Rachel Terhar, who gave her address on the record, said temporary part‑time help can be a practical short‑term approach to support a new auditor without long‑term benefit costs. Another caller urged the board to give newly elected officials time to learn their roles.
Board members responding on the record said the position at issue was already budgeted at $29 an hour under the previous auditor and that the resolution simply allows the auditor to post and classify positions; they emphasized the auditor must comply with the existing budget. Supervisors also noted that posting titles and creating flexibility does not obligate the county to fill all positions and that hiring decisions will be subject to budget constraints.
The board did not set wages or name hires during the meeting. Supervisors said they will continue budget planning that may determine whether part‑time or temporary positions are used and that more detailed staffing reviews are expected as part of upcoming budget work.
