About

Kurt Prenzler

Kurt is a dedicated husband and father, who lives in Edwardsville.

He is a Certified Public Accountant and a lifelong learner, intent on applying his experience and values to the betterment of Madison County.

Reduced County-Portion of Property Taxes – Despite increases in city taxes that cause overall propertytaxes to increase, the county portion of your tax levy decreased 22%
Animal Control - Achieved no-kill status in 2019, while reducing the cost of Animal Control by $220,000
Tax Levy - County Board voted to reduce tax levy by $1.8 million in November 2017. In November 2018, did not raise tax levy.
Public Safety - County Board approved budget increasing resources for public safety: one more Sheriff’s deputy, four jailers, one probation officer, one public defender, and one deputy coroner.
Purchasing – saved money through honest and open bidding
Buildings – saved millions in courthouse and jail renovation, correcting decades of deferred maintenance
County employee management – Require county employees to track hours worked by clocking in and out, tracked by an HR info system just like the private sector
Metro East Sanitary District – Appointed new leadership, improved drainage, and saved millions

2011 – a leader in campaign that defeated 1% sales tax
2013 – a leader in defeating the $18.8 million backdoor tax increase to remodel jail
2016 – led campaign to put tax cut referendum on November ballot. Voters approved (4 to 1) reducing general fund tax rate from .25 to .20, saving taxpayers $2.5 million/year.
Accomplishments as County Treasurer 2010-2016
Exposed unethical tax sales. In 2014, former treasurer Fred Bathon went to federal prison for criminal bid-rigging.
Reduced budget by 30%. Saves $300,000/year
Ran ETHICAL tax sales – with penalty rates 4% (compared to Bathon’s 18%)
Exposed investment scheme between two prior treasurers and on Little Rock, Arkansas bond salesman
Increased deposits in LOCAL banks, from $30 to $90 million