Tim Berry
Indiana's Treasurer

Tim Berry was elected Indiana's 51st and youngest Treasurer of State on November 3, 1998, and took office on February 10, 1999.

Upon taking office, one of Berry's first priorities was to assist Hoosier farmers facing difficult economic conditions. In response, Berry initiated the Treasurer's Agricultural Loan Program (TALP), offering low interest loans of up to $150,000 to aid a key segment of Indiana's economy. Since TALP's inception in March 1999, over 1,600 loans totaling more than $158 million have been issued to farmers in 75 of Indiana's 92 counties.

Additionally, Berry kept a promise made during his campaign to rejuvenate the Indiana Bond Bank and its mission of assisting local units of government in obtaining low-cost financing. As chair of the Bond Bank, Berry has overseen record growth in all of its programs, saving millions of taxpayer dollars for communities throughout Indiana.

As chair of the Indiana Education Savings Authority, Berry has worked hard to help families save and invest for future higher education expenses through the CollegeChoice 529 Investment Plan. Berry led the effort to provide tax exemption on both the state and federal level, making college more affordable and accessible to more Hoosiers. In recognition of his efforts, Treasurer Berry was elected by his peers to assume leadership roles in both the National Association of State Treasurers (NAST), and the College Savings Plans Network (CSPN). The National Association of State Treasurers elected Berry to serve as the President-Elect for a one-year term to begin in December of this year. Additionally, the College Savings Plans Network honored Treasurer Berry with his re-election as Vice-Chair of the network.

Berry is proud of Indiana's national leadership role in providing a safety net for Hoosiers when calling 911 from their cell phone. Indiana now has Phase I coverage in 90 of its 92 counties and more than 70 counties accepting Phase II calls. As chair of the Wireless E911 Advisory Board, Berry is striving to further enhance this lifesaving technology throughout all of Indiana.

In 2002, Berry joined telecommunications industry executives, fellow government leaders and members of the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) Board of Directors to address the technical, operational, policy and financial challenges of wireless 911. The group of volunteers formed NENA's Strategic Wireless Action Team (SWAT), designed to serve as a resource and to ensure the timely implementation of wireless and wireline 911.

Furthermore, in 2003, Berry was recognized as a national leader of Wireless 911 efforts when he was presented with the Presidential Award at the Annual Conference of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (NAPCO).

Berry provided a response to the concerns of cities and towns across the state with their un-funded pension liability for local police and firefighters. Berry was honored by the Indianapolis City-County Council for helping communities meet their commitment to Indiana's heroes and help taxpayers by providing over $22.5 million dollars of pension relief to 129 cities and towns in 2002 alone, without a cost to the state general fund budget.

Berry keeps taxpayers first through the efficient and prudent investment of tax dollars, earning record interest income in excess of $161 million for the state in 2002 fiscal year alone, and maintaining the second leanest state treasurer's office in the country.

During Fiscal Year 2002 statewide office holders were asked to cut their budgets by 10% to assist the state through its budgetary concerns. Berry reverted 18.73% of his total budget to the state's general fund; the largest percentage of any statewide office holder's budget including Governor O'Bannon and Lt. Governor Kernan.

Prior to his election as State Treasurer, Berry served two terms as Allen County Treasurer, in the administration of former Fort Wayne Mayor Paul Helmke, in finance for North American Van Lines, and as adjunct faculty for Tri-State University at Fort Wayne.

In his hometown of Fort Wayne, Berry maintained an active role within the community, serving on many local boards, including the Fort Wayne Neighborhood Housing Partnership, the American Cancer Society, and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program.

In 2000, Tim Berry was recognized by the Indianapolis Business Journal with their "40 under 40" designation, honoring 40 community leaders under the age of 40. Berry holds a BS in Business Administration from Bowling Green State University and a MBA from Indiana University at Fort Wayne. He is a 1980 graduate of Fort Wayne Wayne High School and member of Trinity English Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne.

Tim and his wife Kim are the proud parents of two sons, eight-year old Ian and Colin who is three. Kim Berry serves as State Director of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.