Q&A with treasurer/superintendent candidate Merry Mueller

The four-year term for the position of Mineral County Treasurer/Superintendent of Schools will be on the primary ballot in June.

Mary Yarnall is the current Treasure/Superintendent of Schools and will be retiring at the end of her term this year. Merry Mueller and Jill Betts are candidates for the position, and each works within the department.

The following is a Q&A with Mueller.

What qualifications do you possess for Treasurer of Mineral County; explain your work experience and how it would benefit this county and its residents.

Mueller: I have worked in the treasurer’s office for the past three years. I pride myself on accuracy and integrity. I have an excellent relationship with customers, no complaints and many notes of gratitude. I care about every Mineral County resident and treat all equally. My computer skills are fluent including but not limited to operating Word, Excel spreadsheets, Quick Books Accounting, Black Mountain Accounting/Payroll/Fixed Assets/Cloud (Deeds, etc.), Citrix Gateway, Merlin State DMV and online reporting (ie: Vital Statistics/EFTPS). I am more than comfortable with the computer system and work of the office. Duties include but not limited to vehicle transactions, property taxes and deposits from schools and other county offices. We balance books with the mineral county school districts.

Superintendent of Schools involves working with the three district school clerks, Office of Public Instruction and Missoula County (Alberton joint school district). What knowledge do you have which will assist in school finance?

Mueller: I worked for the Superior School District for 15+ years, balancing the District’s books with the Treasurer’s office. I managed a $3 million General Fund and miscellaneous fund budgets plus additional budgeted funds, Trustee Financial Statement audited by Ronald Foltz CPA (all clean audits-no findings), accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, human resource, school district elections. Financial duties were in compliance with Governmental Accounting Business Standards and Federal/State (MCA)/local laws and including reporting requirements. I worked well with all three current school district financial managers.

What do you see as changes which you could implement in improving the office to better serve the residents of Mineral County?

Mueller: I am excited in the direction our office is moving to streamline the office to create an effective, accurate and healthy work environment. I believe in new collaborative ideas. Communication with department heads to understand goals and objectives builds stronger links. I feel a positive work environment is critical to the amount of work that could be accomplished, creating a confident and comfortable atmosphere for the public.

MCA Code which changes some aspect of your office every two years as new and revised bills get put into law. For example, how do you explain changing tax laws and tighter Montana residency requirements when customers come into your office and complain?

Mueller: As new laws come into effect it is our obligation to abide by them. I believe educating the public with compassion to best serve the community. I love to problem solve to achieve the best final decision for all involved.

Mineral County Treasurer works closely with all county entities (fire department, cemetery districts, health department, clerk and recorder, courts, sheriff office, City of Superior and Alberton, just to name a few). Explain how taxpayers fund the county, school districts and towns?

Mueller: Each town (Alberton and Superior) create their own budgets. The schools have budgeted and non-budgeted funds that are regulated. The schools deposit and write checks through the Mineral County Treasure bank accounts. Only a portion of these budgets are funded by taxes paid by property owners. In short, most budgets are pre-set through each entity including the county budgets. Depending on the property assessed values the mils are adjusted to accommodate total funding for each entity.

What prompted you to run for the elected position of Treasurer/Superintendent of Schools?

Mueller: I grew up in the Missoula area. We chose to move to Mineral County to raise a family because of all Montana has to offer. We have lived here for 30 years, and all six children attended the Superior School District. Mike and my family are very supportive of my decision to run for Mineral County Treasurer/ Superintendent. I’ve always had a knack for numbers, after a few college accounting classes I began a long career in bookkeeping. My knowledge was obtained by offering to help co-workers with their work. This ambition progressed me from secretarial to A/R, A/P and payroll duties in many industries including construction, trucking, paper/pulp mills, lumberyards, and bark plants to name a few. I landed a 16-year job at the School District adding governmental accounting and county election administration duties. I have always worked multiple jobs usually one 40-hour week and additional jobs in the service industry totaling up to 60-70 hours a week. I love the work and challenges of this office and working with the public.