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.