PRINCETON-In a written statement released Wednesday, current Gibson County Treasurer Jim Kolb announced he will file his candidacy for a second term of office.

&#8220I believe the Gibson County Treasurer's office has made many significant improvements in the past three years and I look forward to the continued progress," Kolb said in his statement. &#8220We worked through the mandated state reassessment and collected taxes each year. Many counties were more than a year behind and several have not caught up yet."

A Democrat, Kolb was elected as Gibson County treasurer in 2002, after running unopposed. He is bidding for a second term in the 2006 election.

Further extolling the record of his office during his past three years in office, Kolb said tax collection efforts have been expedient, leading to prompt distribution of tax levies to the county's schools, cities, towns and other agencies.

&#8220This past year, we collected 95 percent of property taxes due, which allows a more timely distribution of funds to local agencies," Kolb said. &#8220We have had record-setting collections on the Gibson County Tax Sales the past three years. The treasurer's office has been very aggressive in collection of personal property judgments over that time. This has resulted in additional funds for the county."

Under his tenure, the treasurer's office has provided more options for taxpayers to pay bills, Kolb said, including allowing credit card payments by telephone and Internet, and also adding online banking at the treasurer's office.

&#8220There are several other options we will be working on to make paying taxes more convenient for taxpayers and providing the funds to the tax-supported agencies," he said. &#8220Every year the treasurer's office has returned any unused operating funds to the county general fund."

Besides serving as county treasurer, Kolb is the secretary of the Indiana County Treasurer's Association, treasurer of the Gibson General Hospital board of trustees and a member of the United Presbyterian Church. Kolb and his wife Judy are lifelong residents of Gibson County. Three of their four children live and work in the county.

&#8220I have a real interest in keeping Gibson County strong financially," Kolb said. &#8220We need to promote new businesses and industries and keep our present ones strong to provide jobs and opportunities for our citizens entering the job market."