Pfeifer touts efficiencies, customer experience in Ellis Co. Treasurer re-election bid

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

The Ellis County Treasurer’s office has seen a number of changes over the last three years under current Treasurer Ann Pfeifer, but she says she has enjoyed being able to serve the community — and hopes to continue serving.

Pfeifer, an Ellis County native, is running for re-election as a Democrat and faces Republican challenger Lisa Schlegel in the Nov. 8 general election.

Pfeifer took over as the treasurer in April 2013 after working as the country’s accounting manager for almost three years. She also spent time working in the banking industry and higher education prior to going to work for Ellis County in November 2010.

Within 60 days of taking office in 2013, Pfeifer and the treasurer’s office helped oversee the closing of four bonds for major construction projects within Ellis County. The first was for the Old U.S. 40 project and the other three were for the Law Enforcement Center, county jail and Emergency Services building.

Pfeifer, who recently became a Certified Kansas County Finance Officer from the Kansas County Treasurer’s Association, said, if re-elected, she plans to continue working to make the office more efficient and continue to look for cost savings.

She said her office is planning to look for a better way to manage wait times and lines. They are currently looking at a system that would allow customers to queue online before coming to the office.

“We are just trying to look at the pros and cons to that,” Pfeifer said, “and if that would be a good fit for Ellis County.”

The office, under the leadership of Pfeifer, is working to become more streamlined and make residents’ experiences with the treasurer’s office more pleasant.

“We work very hard on making sure that every customer is treated the best we can once they get to our window,” Pfeifer said.

In another effort to save money, Pfeifer said she is working with another vendor to mail tax statements.

“To make sure that we can try to get the best price we can on postage, because that is something that we can really control,” she said.

Her office also has enlisted the help of a local vendor to process and send out the tax statements, which Pfeifer said has reduced overtime expenses.

Pfeifer said another goal is to open the payroll reduction option to more employees than just those who work for the county.

The EZ Pay Escrow contribution is withdrawn from paychecks and put into an account with the county that can be used to pay for tag and tax transactions.

“That way, instead of having to make their payments once a year or twice a year,” Pfeifer said, “they are able to use it where they can break it up into 11 or 12 easy monthly payments.”

Pfeifer said even though the department has gone through a lot of change and she has had some disagreements with the county commission, she wouldn’t change anything. She said she wants to help as many people as she can.

“As a mother of three, I want to see Ellis County thrive and be a great place to live, not only for now but for my children and future generations,” she said.