Harrison-Byers Sworn In As Houston County Treasurer
By Greg Ritchie
Messenger Reporter
HOUSTON COUNTY — Tiffany Harrison-Byers has taken over as Houston County treasurer after being sworn in by County Judge Jim Lovell Tuesday, Sep. 1.
Harrison-Byers had already won election to the treasurer’s seat and was scheduled to begin her elected term in January. However, after Janis Omelina announced her retirement, Commissioners Court appointed Harrison-Byers to complete the remainder of Omelina’s current term.
Harrison-Byers said Omelina contacted her before making the decision and helped prepare her for the transition.
“There was a little bit of talk that she was thinking about it,” Harrison-Byers said. “But she did actually call me and let me know that she was thinking about this. She was gracious enough to go over things with me so that I would kind of be prepared to step forward if the need arose.”
Harrison-Byers brings nearly two decades of banking, bookkeeping, payroll and tax-preparation experience to the office.
“I was working at the bank for five years or so, and then I ended up going to work for Dick Murchison,” she said. “This month will be 14 years doing bookkeeping, payrolls and getting tax preparation done for everybody.”
When she was asked to consider running for county treasurer, Harrison-Byers said she discussed the opportunity with Murchison before deciding to enter the race.
“I thought about it really hard and talked about it with Dick, and then we decided that would be a good move,” she said. “So I ran for it and was lucky enough to win the election.”
The county treasurer’s office is responsible for managing several important financial functions for county government.
Harrison-Byers said the office handles payroll for county employees, including the required payroll liabilities and reports. The office also reconciles the county’s many bank accounts and receipts and records money received by the county.
“Keeping up with every dime of it,” she said.
Although she was originally scheduled to begin in January, Harrison-Byers said she had already begun learning about the office and meeting with county officials after her appointment became likely.
She said those discussions have included reviewing the office’s current procedures, identifying areas that need to be updated and considering new ways of handling the work.
Harrison-Byers said she looks forward to working with county departments and the employees already serving in the treasurer’s office.
“I look forward to working with everybody in the departments,” she said. “It seems to be a positive work environment.”
She specifically credited Alicia and Stacy, employees in the treasurer’s office, for their work and willingness to take responsibility.
“They step up. They do their jobs, which will make my job a lot easier,” Harrison-Byers said. “But I also look forward to making their jobs easier, being able to help them where I can.”
She also said she looks forward to working with County Auditor Melissa Jeter and other county officials as she becomes more familiar with the treasurer’s responsibilities.
Harrison-Byers will continue serving under the early appointment before formally beginning the elected term in January.
The transition marks the end of Omelina’s tenure as county treasurer and the beginning of Harrison-Byers’ public service in an office responsible for tracking and managing county funds, payroll and financial records.
Greg Ritchie can be reached at [email protected]
