Voters in Milwaukee County will elect a comptroller in April to help oversee the county’s troubled finances.

The measure “will provide another level of accountability to protect taxpayers,” Gov. Scott Walker said in a statement after signing the bill.

Walker – who served as Milwaukee County executive for eight years – announced Thursday he had signed the bill creating the new position late Wednesday. It sailed through the Legislature last week, with many Democrats joining majority Republicans to approve it 22-10 in the Senate and 79-11 in the Assembly.

Despite the large vote margin, the measure split Milwaukee-area officials, with the county’s delegation to the Legislature divided on the issue and many on the County Board opposing it. County Executive Chris Abele supported the measure and lobbied hard for its passage.

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