Both Dale Brewer and Mike Bucko hope to make paying taxes easier.

Brewer, a Republican, and Bucko, a Democrat, are running for Porter County treasurer.

Brewer said one of her priorities is to eliminate long lines at property tax time by opening a Portage collection facility. "The largest percent of our population is up north and we don't serve them," she said. "The lines (at the county government center in Valparaiso) are atrocious during tax time."

Bucko plans to boost technology with regard to sending out and receiving payment for tax bills. Currently the treasurer's office is faced with a "rush hour" in data -- sending the bills out and then preparing to receive the payments, he said. Now there is a change that will allow taxpayers to pay in installments.

"It would work, but it would change how things are done," he said. "My ability to view things from the private sector will go a long way in reducing the perception that customer service and government in the same sentence is an oxymoron."

While it is uncertain exactly what effect impending tax caps will have on Porter County, both candidates want to take a closer look at tax savings.

Brewer would like to stop paying consultants and instead use an experienced staff to work on getting the tax bills out correctly and on time. "We've paid $400,000 in consultant fees while still paying the office holders," she said.

"We have the experience to replace them. I used to do it all."

Bucko calls for a better investment strategy. Increasing earnings on the county's reserves could potentially decrease negative impact on the cut that local government will see in the future. "The state allowed for a 1.2 percent increase in the budget from 2008 for our 2009 budget," he said. "If you simply did not give any budget increase, you would only be short by $200,000."

Brewer has worked in the county auditor's office for 14 years, and her eight-year term as county clerk expired in January. The Porter resident also worked in the county assessor's office.

Bucko's background includes 30 years in billing and collections at Netnitco, a local communications company. The Hebron resident holds the 4th District seat on the Porter County Council and was an at-large council member from 1993 to 2000.