Missouri State Auditor's Office - 2000-
 |
YELLOW SHEET
Office of the State Auditor of Missouri
Claire McCaskill
|
Report No. 2000-90
September 14, 2000
IMPORTANT:� The Missouri State Auditor is required by Missouri law to conduct
audits only once every four years in counties, like Montgomery, 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 Montgomery County included additional
areas of county operations, as well as the elected county officials.� Some of the current recommendations are
similar to prior recommendations that were not implemented by county officials.� The following concerns were noted as part of
the audit:
- During the two years ended December 31, 1999, the General Revenue
Fund�s cash balances were maintained at significantly low levels.
Additionally, based on the county�s budget for the year ended December 31,
2000, the ending cash balance of the General Revenue Fund is projected to
be only $5,300.� While receipts
increased significantly in 1998, disbursements have steadily risen each
year.� The county has not been able
to set aside any of the increased receipts, but has used those additional funds.� The audit report suggested that the
County Commission consider various alternatives of increasing receipts or
decreasing disbursements to improve the financial condition and maintain
an adequate cash reserve.
- Calculation errors were made in the apportionments of the 1997,
1998, and 1999 railroad and utility taxes.� Erroneous information used in 1997 was carried forward,
causing the 1998 and 1999 errors.
- The County does not have a procedure in place to track federal
awards for preparation of the schedule of federal awards.� The information presented by the County
Clerk for some of the programs did not agree with the county�s expenditure
records.� Without a timely and accurate
schedule, federal financial activity may not be audited and reported in accordance
with federal audit requirements which could result in future reductions of
federal funds.
As in the prior audit report, the audit also
included recommendations to improve records and procedures for fixed
assets.� Also, included in the audit are
recommendations to improve the accounting controls and procedures for the
Circuit Clerk, Associate Circuit/Probate Division, Prosecuting Attorney, and
Sheriff.�
Complete
Audit Report
Missouri State Auditor's Office
moaudit@mail.auditor.state.mo.us
Webmaster:
auditor@mail.auditor.state.mo.us
