North Township assessors staff will compete for reduced county jobs

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BY BILL DOLAN
bdolan@nwitimes.com
219.662.5328 | Tuesday, December 02, 2008 | (11 comment(s))

CROWN POINT | Lake County taxpayers will see more than $683,000 in savings next year from the consolidation and downsizing of six township assessor offices, county officials said Monday.

The Lake County assessor's office is absorbing the duties and some of the staff members of the former Cedar Creek, Eagle Creek, Hanover, North, West Creek and Winfield township assessors' offices and eliminating from 14 to 16 jobs from the county's payroll by year's end.

The blow is falling most heavily on North Township Assessor John Matonovich and his staff of 18.

Voters in East Chicago, Hammond, Munster, Highland and Whiting chose in a Nov. 4 referendum to abolish Matonovich's official duties of setting property values for taxation purposes. County Assessor Paul Karras will take over the duties Jan. 1.

Matonovich's staff is scheduled to begin job interviews today to compete for the eight to 10 positions Karras has available for them to work in his office.

"We will try to take them for experience, qualification and no political BS," Karras said. "I have to have qualified people. Those who we feel don't measure up to the task, they're gone."

The state law governing the consolidation of offices ensures that Matonovich will retain the title of township assessor, but Karras said Matonovich's annual salary will be reduced from its current level of $52,290.

Karras said Matonovich can apply for a job in his office and receive a salary of up to $25,000 "if he works. He is going to have to work. The council wants to cut his salary in half even if he works. I'm in disagreement with that. He was elected by the people for a four-year term (in 2006). He put money and dedication into his campaign, but the council has the final word on that."

Lake County Councilman Ted Bilski, D-Hobart, said Matonovich has indicated he will take the job.

Karras' office absorbed the Cedar Creek, Eagle Creek, Hanover, West Creek and Winfield Township assessors and nine of their 10 full-time staff members last summer when the state Legislature consolidated those offices.

Those five assessors are working for half pay until year's end, but not all are expected to stay on Karras' staff in 2009.

The Calumet, Center, Hobart, Ross and St. John Township assessors' offices survived last month's referendum.

Ross Township Assessor Randall Guernsey voluntarily eliminated one job, and St. John Township Assessor Hank Adams eliminated two jobs as part of the county's austerity program to cut spending in the wake of property tax reductions beginning in 2009.

Governor's opinion
Gov. Mitch Daniels convinced legislators that eliminating the state's 1,008
township assessors would ensure more consistency in how real estate is valued
for tax purposes by reducing the number of people in charge of the process.

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Calumet resident wrote on Dec 2, 2008 3:48 PM:

" Eliminating township is a mistake it is obvious that not much research has gone into the responses. The County is not going to save money and a significant amount of work will be contracted out, and like history has shown the worked produced is substandard. Do yourselves a favor and keep township Assessors. It can get worst. Griffith has a legitimate gripe with the Trustee I feel 3,000,000 is to much to pay for the services provided in Griffith and some how should be reduced. "

Now what wrote on Dec 2, 2008 2:51 PM:

" Hey 10 mos, when you get an answer let me know. When I filed my appeal in January, they told me I could provide an appraisal and other evidence when they held the "informal conference." Last month, I got a letter saying that my appeal was denied because I did not provide any evidence, but they never scheduled the conference. I checked the state's website and it said that you don't need to provide evidence when you file but you do at the review. I never had the review. I had to explain the law to the assessor's office. They said they would get back to me but never did. I called again today and nobody even answered the phone. Now what do I do? God help us if they go to work in Crown Point. "

10 mos and still waiting wrote on Dec 2, 2008 1:42 PM:

" I filed an appeal 10 months ago with Mr. Matonovich's office. I never received a call and when I called to ask, I was told they haven't gotten to it yet. Now his office is out of business. What happens? "

Ken wrote on Dec 2, 2008 8:51 AM:

" Politics as usual. The people keep voting the same politicians in and get the same results, imagine that. Now we have voted to eliminate the township assessor but they will find another govt. handout job. Eliminate all the township positions, statewide, and vote out all the incumbents. "

Say no to new taxes wrote on Dec 2, 2008 8:44 AM:

" Township government needs to go, it's no longer needed. "

Dick wrote on Dec 2, 2008 8:37 AM:

" It seems that when county agency cuts jobs, those cut always wind up in another county job. "

Robertsdale Resident wrote on Dec 2, 2008 8:18 AM:

" Now let's get rid of the whole township idea and save millions! We don't live in the 1800's any more people! "

Paul is correct wrote on Dec 2, 2008 8:01 AM:

" The biggest mistake Karras could make would be to hire Matonovich. Matonovich should be sued for all the mistakes he made, not to mention tax payers paying to settle a sexual harassment case. Matonovich should be paying us back for the legal fees incurred. I live in Hammond and I sure don't want that screw-up having anything more to do with my house. Remember Mr. Karras, WE fired Matonovich, we can fire you too! "

Griffith Resident wrote on Dec 2, 2008 7:37 AM:

" I hope that the politicians down state see that the people want change and will just pass another Bill to Eliminate the remaining Township offices. The people of Griffith have no Voice when it comes to eliminating the Trustee and Assessors office. Thanks to Vernon Smith being able to chair the discusion, and not bring it up, and Griffiths' population being much smaller than Gary. Anytime that I have had to deal with anything about my property I have to go to Crownpoint and not Gary. Cut out the middleman and save money. "

Paul Myers wrote on Dec 2, 2008 5:59 AM:

" Hiring John Matanovich back into any position in the Assessors Office is a BIG mistake. Anyone who has been in the North Township Assessors Office in the past several years can tell you that he is an absentee assessor. From the $100,000,000 Inland Steel/Mittal Steel mistake last year to the fake layoff of his chief deputy and the closed door settlement he made with her for sexual harassment, he is the last person we need looking at assessed values of properties.

If he is so good then why did his office, like so many others, hire an outside firm to do the last two failed assessments. Just drive by the Indianapolis Blvd. office and read the sign. The largest portion of the office sign reads JOHN MATANOVICH while the much smaller portions reads NORTH TOWNSHIP ASSESSOR. Since the tax payers pay for this facility we need to ask the question: Is this the North Township Assessors office or John Matanovich’s office?

And how do I know he shouldn’t be permitted to work for Lake County in any capacity? I won the appeal of an entire 225 home neighborhood. That’s how! "

nice try wrote on Dec 2, 2008 4:24 AM:

" Sure a lot got eliminated but the biggest waste of money Calumet will still be around wasting taxpayers money and the sheep who voted for it are to blame. "

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