URBANA – Champaign County Auditor Tony Fabri said Wednesday that his office should remain elected rather than appointed, arguing that the current structure provides necessary checks and balances.

"This isn't about me," Fabri said. "I'm here to tell you the system is important. Take me out of the equation entirely."

Fabri said his staffers are "able to do their jobs because the auditor is elected," that he has the authority and independence as an elected official "to allow them to do their jobs."

Fabri's presentation was part of a series of hearings by the county's Policy, Personnel and Appointments Committee. Coroner Duane Northrup and Recorder of Deeds Barb Frasca, both Republicans, made presentations Tuesday.

The county is looking at whether the auditor, coroner and recorder's offices should be changed to appointed positions, rather than elected. If deemed suitable by the county board, a resolution to have public votes on any of the changes could be placed on the November 2010 ballot. Another option might be to combine some functions, such as the coroner's with the sheriff's office.

Some county board members from both parties were critical of Fabri's job performance after an investigative story in March by The News-Gazette showed that he was apparently frequently not in his office, based on phone records. Between Aug. 20, 2008, and Sept. 30, 2008, only one phone call was answered on Fabri's personal line, while no outgoing calls were made on that line. Al Nudo, R-Champaign, and Steve Beckett, D-Urbana, presented a joint resolution to put the issue of whether to eliminate the auditor's office to the voters.

In late March, Fabri resigned a separate post as chairman of the Champaign County Democratic Party, which he had held for five years.

Fabri declined to be specific about his attendance when asked by committee member Brendan McGinty, D-Urbana, but said, "I don't think what's been in the media has been accurate, but I have acknowledged that there are things that need to be changed."

Echoing Fabri's point on checks and balances were Urbana Mayor Laurel Prussing, a former county board member, former county auditor and former state representative; Rick Winkel, also a former county board member, former state senator and current director of the Office of Public Leadership at the University of Illinois Institute of Government and Public Affairs; and Rick Faccin, a former county board member and current auditor in Madison County and president of the Illinois Auditors Association.

Winkel said, "I think it is important to have elected officials be county auditor."

He said the office needs to have someone with the authority of elected office to perform the duties.

Prussing said, "Do you want a watchdog or a lapdog?"

She said her own background was in economics, not accounting, but the duties of auditor also involve compliance audits as well as financial audits.

During her 16-year tenure, the auditor's office saved the county millions of dollars, Prussing said, pointing to a decision to self-fund workman's compensation as saving $250,000.

"I think it's an office that more than pays for itself," she said.

Marilyn Querry of Rantoul said she does not support the combining of the coroner's office nor the recorder of deeds office with other county functions, but the elected office of auditor is unnecessary.

"This was proven when the elected officer did not show up for work," Querry said. "The work was done by professionals anyway. There could be substantial savings to the taxpayers."

Querry said she also supports the reduction of the size of the county board, another idea that the board may discuss.

Committee Chair Tom Betz, D-Urbana, said the regular policy committee meeting next week will be the next step in the process of discussing possible changes. The county will be limited to three ballot questions for the November 2010 election, he said.

"There's a whole lot more to talk about," Betz said.