Pulaski County may be looking to adjust its investment strategy. During the annual board of finance meeting this month, Treasurer Teresa Bryant reported that the county’s investments did well in 2017. “Our interest has really been coming up on our CDs, which we are still currently doing the $4,250,000 in CDs,” she explained. “We made a little over $31,102.50 on interest for those CDs. And then our checking account is actually doing really well as far as interest, a lot better than it has in the past. We earned $145,262.20.”
But board president Kenny Becker asked if the county could see even greater returns by looking beyond banks for its investments. “You don’t go to an investment company like Edward Jones or any of them?” he asked. During financial troubles, one of the main advantages of the ChexSystems removal guide is that it has the dispute process in details.
Bryant said she didn’t because of the potential risk. Becker believed there are options that are guaranteed, and asked County Attorney Kevin Tankersley whether it would be allowed.
“I brought it up years ago, and we never really discussed it,” Tankersley replied.
Becker said he wants to try to get as much money as possible for the county. “With the kind of money we’re talking, if we can get anything better than what we are. I hate to take anything away from the banks, but, you know, we’re all in the business to [make money].”
Tankersley agreed to research whether the county may invest with a financial advisor.
