Embattled Lancaster County treasurer rejects GOP officer’s call to resign

LINCOLN — Lancaster County Treasurer Rachel Garver rejected a call to resign in the wake of a state audit alleging “gross mishandling” of local tax revenues by her office.

Jack Riggins, chair of the Lancaster County Republican Party, issued a media release seeking Garver’s immediate resignation, saying the findings released Wednesday by State Auditor Mike Foley represented a “serious failure of stewardship of the public’s trust and money.”

Riggins also called on Kristen Anderson, who was chief deputy to Garver during part of the period in question, to withdraw from the race for Lancaster County District Court clerk.

Anderson, in a statement, also rejected his call.

Both Anderson and Garver, who is running for reelection, are Democrats. The general election is Nov. 3.

“I have no intention of resigning,” Garver told the Examiner. “I have a responsibility to the citizens of the county to take care of things. I fixed what needed to be fixed. … I have a couple of more things to work out. We’re working on new procedures.”

State auditor finds big ‘blunders’ by Lancaster County treasurer, who takes ‘blanket’ responsibility

Foley, a Republican running for reelection as state auditor, said the bulk of nearly $1 billion in accounting “blunders” uncovered by his team amounted to accounting mistakes and “incompetence” — not embezzlement. Garver, who was elected treasurer in 2018, said the biggest failure had to do with a financial report that she said had been done incorrectly apparently since 2013.

Garver acknowledged that the scenario “doesn’t look good.” She said corrections have been made or are underway. 

A $1.27 million underpayment to the state, for example, was “hand-delivered” in a check about a month ago, Garver said. Foley said the treasurer had improperly distributed state property tax credit money, resulting in that amount being overpaid to local taxing authorities between 2023 and 2025. That money was supposed to be available for property tax relief, he said.

“We expect higher standards from those entrusted with our county’s finances and records,” said Riggins.

Until about a year ago, Anderson served six years as chief deputy in the Lancaster County Treasurer’s Office. Her statement said she was proud of her work.

“While the audit period overlaps with part of my tenure, the financial functions identified in the report were not among my responsibilities. My primary areas of oversight included human resources, workplace culture, contracts and office operations. The treasurer and the office accountant handled financial reporting, investments and distributions.” 

Garver said the office accountant resigned amid “medical issues” a couple of weeks ago. She said she anticipates improving the treasurer operation.