Joseph Birkey says he will seek re-election as Bureau County treasurer

Joseph Birkey will seek re-election for a second term as Bureau County treasurer. He began his first term as treasurer Dec. 1, 2018.

Birkey grew up in Walnut. His parents are Ronald (deceased) and Marilyn Birkey. After graduating from Walnut High School, he obtained his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Northern Illinois University and then became licensed as a certified public accountant. He has been married to Lou Ann Hopper Birkey for 31 years and has two children, Andrew (26) and Jessica (25), both attending graduate schools obtaining their doctorates.

“In 2018 I ran for Bureau County treasurer because I believed my financial education, skills, and over 30 years of experience would be of immense service to the people of Bureau County,” Birkey said in a press release. “I still believe our taxpayers deserve to have a treasurer with a strong accounting background.

Birkey’s community service includes being a member of the Princeton Moose Lodge, member of the Walnut Masonic Lodge, member of the First United Methodist Church of Princeton and past member of the Finance Committee, past member of Princeton Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, past member of Princeton Jaycees, and past president of the Princeton Public Schools Foundation. He serves as the president of Berlin Mutual Insurance and on its finance committee. He has been a member of the Illinois County Treasurers’ Association in his first term.

Birkey said he has added a level of professionalism and enhanced accounting knowledge to the treasurer’s office. During his term in office he said changes have been accomplished.

“The outdated payroll system has been upgraded to comply with the ever-changing federal and state payroll tax laws and rates,” Birkey said. “The collection of mobile home taxes has been brought up to date with past delinquencies.”

He said he has used his accounting skills to facilitate investment decisions to maximize the allowable rate of return on the county’s financial assets. Birkey said he has used his accounting financial expertise to save the county money by completing duties the external auditor had performed in the past. He has also assisted other departments and the County Board in financial related activities.

“The office has an excellent staff and there has been no turnover in the staff that I hired,” Birkey said. “The office operates with a very lean staff and therefore it’s imperative that everyone be knowledgeable about the different services the office provides to our taxpayers. The working relationship between the treasurer’s office and the other departments in Bureau County positively reflects my strong communication abilities. To help continue to build a strong cohesiveness between the departments, the treasurer’s office prepares a quarterly newsletter, which is shared with all county workers to keep them informed of timely happenings within the courthouse.”

Birkey said he believed it’s important to be an active supporter of the other departments and the Bureau County Board and he has made it a priority during his first term to attend the majority of the Fees and Salary Committee meetings as well as the County Board meetings.

“If re-elected, I will continue to focus on implementing enhanced technology within the office, pursue the equitable pay for courthouse employees, and continue to use my accounting expertise to serve the taxpayers of Bureau County,” he said. “Thank you in advance to the residents of Bureau County for their continued support in the upcoming election.”