 WILL COUNTY AUDITOR BLACKBURN SELECTED AS PANELIST FOR STATE CPA GOVERNMENT CONFERENCE JOLIET – Will County
Auditor Duffy Blackburn will be a panelist for the Illinois Certified Public
Accountant Society’s annual Government Conference. Blackburn, also a CPA,
will participate in a discussion titled The
Practical Approaches to GASB 54 Implementation on May 2 in Rosemont.
The panel will cover the new accounting standard that improves the reporting of
leftover funds, especially those which have been committed to a project or
restricted by referendum or law. http://www.icpas.org/eventscalendar/EventDetail.aspx?id=17340
or
call ICPAS at (800) 993-0407.
WILL COUNTY'S BLACKBURN AWARDED COUNTY AUDITOR OF THE YEAR January 5, 2011 JOLIET, IL -Will County Auditor Duffy Blackburn, a Certified Public Accountant in his first term in office, announced today that he has been awarded County Auditor of the Year by the Illinois Association of County Auditors. The award recognizes an Illinois County Auditor for contributions to his or her office and achieving the Association’s goals of improving governmental accounting, auditing, and financial reporting. This is only the second year the award has been handed out by the Association, which is made up of all the county auditors from across the state. “This award acknowledges my office’s commitment and professional expertise in providing accountability for Will County’s operations and tax money,” said Duffy Blackburn. “We’ve worked hard to reveal a series of innovative and successful measures for reducing the risks and costs that we face in Will County.” The County Auditor of the Year Award is one of many honors Blackburn has received while in his first term in office. Blackburn has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association each year since 2008. And in 2011, Blackburn along with the county won an A+ Grade and Sunny Award for open government and transparency initiatives. Blackburn, a CPA who holds two master’s degrees
in business and accounting, will complete his first term this November. WILL COUNTY GETS RARE A+ IN GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY April 9, 2011 JOLIET — Will County has moved to the head of the class when it comes to transparency, one of only 17 counties in the nation to get a perfect score from Sunshine Review.
Auditor Duffy Blackburn was notified of the most recent award. It is the second award in recent weeks honoring the County for providing easily-understood information about its operations. Will County also received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for its comprehensive annual financial report. Will County’s A+ performance from the Sunshine Review earned Will County a place with 111 other governmental units from across the nation that won the Sunny Award, which recognizes “the best state and local government Web sites in America that exceeded transparency standards.” Only 48 of more than 6,000 governmental Web sites received perfect scores,
including nearby DuPage County. The average score for Illinois counties was a
D, according to information from the organization. Enhancements such as the online checkbook, Will County’s Open Government page, and disclosure of elected officials’ salary information contributed to the A+ grade. “It’s not too often that you are awarded a perfect score in anything,” said Will County Executive Larry Walsh. “I’m very proud of our ranking – and I’d like to thank Duffy for doing the homework that it took to bring that grade up.” Auditor Blackburn, CPA, went on to say that, “this award belongs to all Will County government officials and staff who continue to expand our county’s transparency efforts. It includes all of the County’s Web sites – County Executive, County Board, County Clerk, Treasurer, and many more offices and departments. “From available online videos of the County Board meetings and the Clerk’s
elected officials directory to the Treasurer’s property tax information and the
Executive’s prior award-winning Planning and Zoning information, the county has
been consistent in providing information to the citizens of Will County.” Statewide, Florida received the most Sunny Awards with 20. It was followed by Texas, 12, Utah, 10, Illinois, 7, Virginia, 6, and California, 5. To get to any of the County’s Web sites, go to www.willcountyillinois.com and follow the links. WILL COUNTY RECEIVES FINANCIAL REPORTING AWARD IN FIRST YEAR OF RESTRUCTURING March 30, 2011 JOLIET – A collaborative effort by three elected officials has netted the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting in its first year of operation. Will County Auditor Duffy Blackburn, CPA, was notified that the County was awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for its comprehensive annual financial report, or CAFR. The certificate is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting. Earning it represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management, according to the sponsoring agency. The award covers the fiscal year ending in November 2009. “This is the county’s ninth consecutive award,” said Blackburn. “But what makes this one special is that it is the first year of collaboration between Will County Clerk Nancy Schultz Voots, County Executive Larry Walsh and myself.” The reorganization, which was approved by the County board, allowed two activities to be transferred to the Finance Department. Accounts payable was moved from the County Clerk’s office, and daily accounting entries from the Auditor’s office. "This is a common practice for counties throughout the State of Illinois,” said Blackburn. The outcome, the officials say, streamlines the County’s business operations and allows them to focus on their central responsibilities. Voots is "extremely pleased with the outcome of this move. It has allowed me the ability to dedicate my staff to the core duties surrounding an election, and I am very proud of the outstanding job they continue to do." The Auditor’s office has directed its focus on its auditing role to provide accountability and transparency, said Blackburn. The Finance Department is now better organized to handle business operations. Named for their work on the financial report are Blackburn and Finance Director Paul Rafac. The Finance Department is under the County Executive’s office. County Executive Walsh said, “I’m very proud of the recognition from the Government Finance Officers Association. And I’m extremely proud of Duffy and Paul for the work they did, along with Nancy’s office, to restructure our operations and make it work at such an exemplary level. “Again, it proves that when we work together, the people of Will County benefit,” he said. “This award recognizes the honest and understandable accounting of the County’s finances.” Blackburn collaborated with the Finance Department’s Emily Purnell, also a Certified Public Accountant, to write a computer application using in-house information technology tools that creates the annual 250-page financial report, a process that will save the County thousands of dollars annually. In the past, the County paid external auditors to create the report. Blackburn and Purnell’s application allows staff to use current IT tools to compile the final product, reducing the number of hours the County will need the outside firm. “We estimate the process will save the County between $5,000 and $10,000 each and every year,” said Blackburn. From now on, the function will be managed in Executive Walsh’s Finance Department. The Government Finance Officers Association said the County’s report was judged by an impartial panel and meets the high standards of its program, including the demonstration of a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read it. GFOA is a non-profit professional association serving approximately 17,500 government finance professionals. The County’s CAFR can be found at www.willcountyauditor.com/-cafr. WILL COUNTY AUDITOR BLACKBURN PARTNERS WITH DEVRY UNIVERSITY ON INTERNSHIP PROGRAM February 7, 2011
JOLIET – Will County Auditor Duffy Blackburn is proud to announce a partnership with DeVry University on the creation of an accounting internship program in the auditor’s office. “We are so pleased with this partnership,” Blackburn said. “The internship program will afford a student ‘real world’ experience while at the same time enabling us to share our knowledge with students to prepare them for jobs as the accountants of tomorrow.” Blackburn said he reached out to DeVry University to establish this internship program. Currently, the internship is for eight weeks and the student can earn two college credits. “We are beginning with one student but we hope to expand this program to two or three students,” he said. “It is a win/win opportunity. The student gets on the job training and we are able to increase our staff without any additional cost to taxpayers.” Andrew Wendt, a senior from Mokena, said he is very happy to have the opportunity to employ the knowledge he has gained at DeVry University in this internship. “This is my first involvement with auditing,” Wendt said. “My experience here is affecting me in the classroom. I am able to apply my classroom learning to the duties I have here in the auditor’s office. This has been a great hands-on experience.” Blackburn said Wendt is working with claims audits and cash accounts audits. He said Wendt will also be involved in training for risk assessment. “This experience will benefit Andrew in whatever branch of accounting he chooses to pursue,” said Blackburn. Jamal Scott, president of DeVry University’s Tinley Park campus said internships are valuable to students in offering real world experiences which complements the curriculum. “We are tremendously grateful to local organizations that afford our students these opportunities,” said Scott. “The relationship that DeVry University has developed with the Office of the Will County Auditor is instrumental in the launch of our students' professional careers, and we look forward to further cultivating this partnership."
WILL COUNTY AUDITOR BLACKBURN PRESENTS REBATE CHECK January 8, 2010 “Our main objective in the continuation of this ProCard program is to provide an efficient, cost-effective method of purchasing for the entire County,” Blackburn said. Under the ProCard program, County employees are able to purchase supplies or services in a credit card transaction, as opposed to the traditional paper purchase order process. Historically, the County averages 362 purchase orders each month. A study conducted by Deloitte-Touche, an international consulting and accounting firm, determined the cost to the County for processing a paper purchase order is between $75 and $200. Blackburn said the processing cost has been reduced significantly, between $10 and $40 per purchase order, due to digital processing. “This program has grown dramatically after beginning as a pilot program with only six users,” he said. “Deputy Auditor Cathy Pleasant has administered this program since its inception and has been very diligent in its management. By adding the accountability and control of the ProCard program to the Auditor’s office, we are still able to track the number of purchases and maintain an ongoing audit of all claims which, in turn, streamlines the entire purchasing process.” Blackburn said Pleasant presented Will County’s model program at two national conferences and the County was chosen as the test program for the computer development of the interface between the ProCard data and its financial software system. Will County Executive Larry Walsh hailed Blackburn for the success of this cost-cutting measure in light of a difficult financial climate. “Duffy maintains his dedication to his office and the tax payers of Will County by consistently utilizing the most economical methods to conduct business,” Walsh said. “The auditor’s office is proud to produce its first revenue in its 97 year history,” Blackburn added. “Improvement to the County’s internal processes is being seen continuously and I am happy to highlight this program and congratulate my staff for its success. With this year’s difficult budget, this rebate couldn’t have come at a better time, and we know that every bit helps.”
WILL COUNTY AUDITOR: LAUNCHES NEW EXPENDITURE REPORT May 17, 2010 JOLIET, Illinois – To help set the standard for transparency in Will County, Will County Auditor Duffy Blackburn has announced on Monday he will “open up the County’s checkbook.” “My office will have a new feature on the
Auditor’s website. We will begin posting a list of checks issued by the County,”
Blackburn said.
According to Blackburn, he will use a report
similar to a neighboring county. He said he has worked closely with Bob Grogan,
DuPage County Auditor, to fashion the report for Will County.
“Bob and I have a good relationship and I
appreciate all the information we’ve shared,” said Blackburn.
The reports will be posted quarterly and will
include: a detailed listing of checks paid by each elected official and
department; a detailed listing of vendors being paid: and a detailed listing of
purchases made through the County’s procurement card. Blackburn said only checks
issued through the general corporate fund approved under Will County Board
appropriation will be listed. A public notice will be published quarterly in the
newspaper to notify when this report and the Quarterly Analysis Report are
viewable.
“This move is consistent with the County’s
policy of transparency,” he added.
Approximately 56,000 claims are audited each
year by the County Auditor’s Office. Blackburn said the first quarter report is
more than 485 pages. He also said the new reports were able to be created under
the County’s existing accounting system without any additional expenses.
“I feel it is important to let the residents
know how their tax dollars are being spent.”
Will County Executive Larry Walsh said he is
supportive of Blackburn’s initiative.
“As elected officials, we are always
accountable to the taxpayers of this County,” Walsh said. “I think this is a
responsible step for Duffy’s office.”
The report can be viewed at www.willcountyauditor.com under the Auditor’s
page.
WILL COUNTY AUDITOR: RIGHT TIME FOR CHANGE October 17, 2009 JOLIET, Illinois - Will County Auditor Duffy
Blackburn has announced this week his department will begin fiscal year 2010
with some important changes.
“We’ve begun preparation to move the
day-to-day accounting duties from the Auditor’s Office into the Finance
Department beginning December 1, 2009.” Blackburn said. “Due to the rapid growth
in the county, this move will help the two departments become more
effective.”
Management of the accounting, budget, and fixed
assets of the County will also now fall under the Finance Department leaving the
Auditor’s Office to focus on the statutory duties. Blackburn, who is in his
first year of his 4 year term, said it is not the duty of the Auditor’s Office
to be involved in the bookkeeping while at the same time auditing its own
books.
“This restructuring will be advantageous to our
office in making it more independent, and ultimately making the County more
accountable and transparent,” he said. “We will still work closely with the
Finance Department to make specific recommendations.”
Historically, the Will County Auditor has
acted as a general accounting department. With the continued growth in the
County, this move has become even more timely. This restructuring will align
Will County with other counties of similar size across the country. Blackburn
said he has a good working relationship with Finance Director Paul Rafac and
this move will make that cooperation even stronger.
“We have had discussions with the County Board
and Paul Rafac and we all agree this is the right time for this change. This
will allow us to focus on the auditing duties of this office set by Illinois
statute. ”
In addition, Blackburn enumerated his schedule
and list of changes which will yield a more cost-effective office which include
eliminating the auditor’s vehicle and related maintenance costs at the beginning
of 2009, simplifying and automating financial reports this past spring, and the
elimination of paid interns and contractual employees this past summer.
The planned schedule going forward includes the preparation and cross-training of employees in the months of October and November and by December 1 to reach an overall staff reduction of 60 percent, half of which will be transitioned to the expanded Finance Department. County Board Finance Committee Chairman Ed
Kusta acknowledged the restructuring will be beneficial in keeping the County
operating financially sound.
“The silver lining to every economic downturn
is the overall reduction of the size of government at all levels,” Kusta said.
“My hat is off to County Executive Walsh and the County Board, through the
leadership of Chairman Jim Moustis, as well as Auditor Blackburn and all other
elected officials and department heads for rising to the challenge and making
the reductions necessary to keep the County financially healthy. “
Added Blackburn, “The timing is really perfect.
We have a new auditor, a new finance committee chairman, and we are entering a
new fiscal year.”
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