(The Center Square) – A Zionsville politician will serve as Indiana’s next comptroller.
Boone County Council President Elise Nieshalla was appointed to the position by Gov. Eric Holcomb on Tuesday. Her term will take effect upon the Thursday resignation of Tera Klutz, and she’ll be sworn into office on Friday.
From a financial perspective, Nieshalla helps oversee the budgeting process in the county northwest of Indianapolis.
“She has shared her financial expertise to help steer and shape the bright future of Boone County, which gives me great confidence she’ll do the same serving Hoosiers as our next State Comptroller,” Holcomb said in a statement.
Besides her leadership on the Boone County Council, Nieshalla also serves as the president of the Indiana County Councils Association and chairs the Association of Indiana Counties’ 2023 Legislative Committee. Her responsibilities have included working with lawmakers on tax and budget issues for municipal governments.
She also helped establish the Hoosier Leadership Series and managed the education and tax policy for the Indiana Family Institute program.
“My appreciation runs deep for the strong financial standing of our state and the integrity in which the State Comptroller’s Office is run,” Nieshalla said. “It is truly my privilege to receive Governor Holcomb’s appointment to serve our great state and local units of government by upholding the highest standards of fiscal responsibility and offering tremendous Hoosier service.”
Holcomb announced Klutz’s resignation two months ago. Picked in 2017, she was the first certified public accountant to take on the role of what was then called the State Auditor. The name change took effect on July 1.
Klutz, at the time, did not disclose why she was stepping down, other than to say she was looking forward to going back to the private sector.
The Comptroller’s office handles four main fiscal issues for the state – accounts payable, accounting and reporting, local government and payroll. It also oversees the Indiana public pension program.