Kosciusko County Auditor, Michelle Puckett, left, chats with Suzanne Crouch, auditor of the state of Indiana.

“The county auditors office is the hub of county government,” said Indiana State Auditor Suzanne Crouch during a visit Kosciusko County Auditor Michelle Puckett on Wednesday, June 14. “Just like the state auditor is the hub of state government. County government only performs as well as the auditor’s office.”

Crouch is currently on a statewide tour to discuss transparency in government at the state level and ways the state can support local communities, like Kosciusko County.

“When I started in public service, I was a county auditor,” she said. “I’ve come to realize how important it is when all government works together.”

Crouch was elected Vanderburgh County Auditor in 1994. During her two terms she pushed for government efficiency and transparency. Ultimately, she left the county in clean financial standing.

She served as a Vanderburgh County Commissioner from 2002 to 2005. Again, she pushed for transparency, working to have the commission meeting televised. She served as an Indiana state representative from 2005 to 2014, when Gov. Mike Pence appointed her to her current position.

During her visit to the Kosciusko County Auditor’s office in Warsaw, she reported that the state closed out last year with $2 billion in reserve, after increasing funding for education and infrastructure. She also stated that she feels the Hoosier state will close out the fiscal year in similar standing and continue to be one of only 13 states to hold a AAA bond rating from Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch Ratings.

Crouch started her tour in February. She will meet with all 92 counties in Indiana, likely wrapping up in September. “When you’re geographically removed from the capitol, there a sense of isolation,” she said, which is why she’s dropping in on county auditors for a little face time.

As auditor, Crouch said she serves as the state’s CFO, managing state funds and budgets. She also manages the Indiana Transparency Portatl, www.in.gov/itp, where all Hoosier taxpayers can view government spending and operations.