GR Comptroller plan: eliminate my job

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Here's one you don't hear everyday.

Donijo Robbins DeJonge, who faced scrutiny from both Grand Rapids City Commissioners when she sought appointment to the city comptroller's position and from voters when she ran for the office wants to get rid of the office.

Well, get rid of the office isn't exactly accurate.

DeJonge is proposing the Grand Rapids City Comptroller, which basically audits city spending, should become part of the Chief Financial Officer's office.

Since the comptroller is elected and the CFO is appointed, the merger would require a change in the city charter.

But why try to write yourself out of a job you asked for in the first place?

"I told the City Commission in my initial interview that I would evaluate the position and the office and make recommendations about ways to transform the office and perhaps even the City," DeJonge said in a news release. "Today I keep that promise. But more importantly this is about good government and sound financial practices."

DeJonge says the change is best for Grand Rapids.

"The City is running a century-old financial structure in the 21st century and the time has come for the City's financial structure to be modernized," said DeJogne in a news release out of city hall Friday morning. "The first step to accomplish this feat is to start at the top with the City Comptroller position."

Tuesday, DeJonge will ask the city commission to create one position with the responsibilities of accounting, budgeting, and finance. All the responsibilities currently given to the comptroller in the charter would still remain.

The move would provide the CFO with additional responsibilities.

DeJogne is recommending the appointed position require credentials, including Certified Public Accountant certification and years of experience in municipal finance -- requirements she does not possess.

 "The world of finance (accounting and budgeting) demands professional standards, ethics, and processes and there is no place for politics in the management of taxpayer money," she said in her statement. "You do not want a politician controlling the money; you want a professional who is certified by the industry."