YELLOW SHEET Office of the State Auditor of Missouri |
July 2, 2001
Report No. 2001-51
IMPORTANT:� The Missouri State Auditor is required by
Missouri law to conduct audits only once every four years in counties, like
Scotland, which do not have a county auditor.�
However, to assist such counties in meeting federal audit requirements,
the State Auditor will also perform a financial and compliance audit of various
county operating funds every two
years.� This voluntary service to
Missouri counties can only be provided when state auditing resources are
available and does not interfere with the State Auditor�s constitutional
responsibility of auditing state government.�����������������������
Once every four years, the State Auditor�s statutory audit will cover additional areas of county operations, as well as the elected county officials,� as required by Missouri�s Constitution.��
This
audit of Scotland County included additional areas of county operations, as
well as the elected county officials.� The following concerns were noted as part of the audit:
During December 2000, the Prosecuting Attorney
mistakenly submitted two invoices for utilities and telephone expenses,
totaling approximately $480, to be paid from the Prosecuting Attorney Bad Check
Fund.� The invoices included the
utilities and telephone expense for the entire building, which the Prosecuting
Attorney also uses for her private practice and as a place of residence.�
On May 15, 2001, the Missouri Supreme Court handed
down an opinion that holds that all raises given pursuant to this statute
section are unconstitutional.� Based on
the Supreme Court decision, the raises given to each of the Associate County
Commissioners, totaling approximately $3,800 for the two years ended December
31, 2000, should be repaid.� Any raises
given to other officials within their term of office should also be
re-evaluated for propriety.
Also included in the audit are recommendations to improve the accounting� controls and procedures for the Prosecuting Attorney and Sheriff.� The audit also suggested improvements be made in the county�s bidding procedures, restricted funds accounting, property tax system and computer controls, fixed assets and preparation of county commission minutes.� Several of these issues had been noted in prior audits.