For Michaela Bigaouette, the transition into her new role as Marion County Treasurer has been easy in terms of the type of work she does…but trickier in terms of the volume of work and types of decisions she has to contend with now.

Bigaouette officially took over the County Treasurer’s office one month ago; she tells KNIA/KRLS News the face-to-face contact she has with the general public hasn’t changed much from her early days there, despite now being the head of the office.

“Because I’ve been in the office for eighteen years and started out as a clerk and worked my way up to a motor vehicle deputy and the deputy treasurer; as the treasurer I’m still dealing with the same people, the same citizens with the same situations. And the wonderful thing about that is that I was able to step into this with a comfort level,” Bigaouette says.

She says changes to the way the office operates which can make it more efficient and helpful for taxpayers are always welcome; Bigaouette says many of those start at the legislative level with new or revised laws, and she looks forward to the opportunity to work with state officials and her counterparts in other counties to shape policy for the public’s benefit.