SPRINGFIELD - In his first act as state treasurer, Republican DanRutherford closed satellite offices in Effingham, Collinsville,Mount Vernon, Riverdale, Rockford and Rock Island.
"I see them as a total inefficient use of state assets," saidRutherford, who was sworn into office Monday. He added the actualsavings would be negligible.
One staff member works in each office; one position will beeliminated and the others are being evaluated. Employees may remainwith the treasurer's office, but they won't work in a satelliteoffice, Rutherford told reporters.
The offices had been used to promote the Bright Start collegesavings program and financial literacy, and to help Illinoisanstrack unclaimed property. Democratic candidate Robin Kelly, chief ofstaff to then-Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, had vowed to keep themopen.
"All of the services that the state treasurer provides throughthose satellite offices absolutely can be done in another way,"Rutherford said, such as through the Internet or over the telephone.
Although not everyone has access to a computer, he noted thatevery library in Illinois has Internet access.
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