KALAMAZOO, Mich. — No charges will be filed following a probe into the Kalamazoo County Treasurer’s Office.
Michigan State Police began an investigation in October 2018 over accounting abnormalities that were found in the treasurer’s office.
The investigation focused on how money was used in the Kalamazoo County Tax Reversion Fund. Ultimately, investigators decided not to file charges.
Investigators say Kalamazoo County officials were cooperative and forthcoming during the investigation, including Treasurer Mary Balkema.
Several Kalamazoo county administrators released a statement on the decision not to file charges:
“From the beginning, we were confident that this investigation would be closed and that no charges would be filed,” states the Treasurer’s legal counsel, Ted Seitz, of the Dykema Gossett law firm. “Over the past year, as noted in the MSP’s press release, the Treasurer has fully cooperated with the MSP. This includes explaining the Treasurer’s role as the ‘foreclosing governmental unit’ pursuant to the Michigan General Property Tax Act, along with the Treasurer’s other duties and responsibilities under Michigan law. In other words, we knew that any allegations raised about accountability and the propriety of certain activities in the Kalamazoo County Treasurer’s Office were unfounded, unfair, and without any support in fact or law.”
“To be clear, I have at all times and in all areas followed Michigan law,” said Mary Balkema, Kalamazoo County Treasurer. “I remain proud of my record as the Kalamazoo County Treasurer. The mission and focus of myself, along with those in my office, has always remained and will continue to remain the same – preventing foreclosure and keeping people in their homes, connecting families with resources to maintain homeownership, reducing blight, investing in the tax base, and serving all taxpayers of Kalamazoo County.”
Kalamazoo County Administrator, Tracie Moored, echoed the above statements and said that, “County Administration welcomes moving forward and positively working with the Treasurer to most effectively provide services to our community.”
