12/12/2019
State Auditor Nicole Galloway today released a follow-up review of the Madison County Collector's Office. An audit, released in July, detailed more than $13,000 missing and led to criminal charges against former deputy collector Kelsey Skaggs-Gresham. The follow-up review found that the County Commission and the County Collector have made progress implementing the audit recommendations to better protect taxpayer dollars.
"When public resources are stolen, it is vital for public officials to restore citizens' confidence as soon as possible," Auditor Galloway said. "I am encouraged this follow-up report shows officeholders in Madison County are taking the steps necessary to restore that trust. My office will continue to work with law enforcement officials as the criminal charges are prosecuted."
The audit released this summer identified $13,263 in missing money, which represented 66 individual personal property and real estate tax payments. These payments went missing when taxpayers would pay their bills, but the transaction was subsequently deleted from the system and money was not deposited.
The follow-up report found that the County Commission and the County Collector are working with law enforcement regarding the prosecution of the former deputy collector. Skaggs-Gresham was charged with five felony counts of stealing in August.
The County Collector also has begun performing independent or supervisory reviews of financial transactions and has implemented procedures to account for the numerical sequence of receipt slip numbers. Changes have also been made to the system so that office personnel are no longer able to delete transactions.
Auditors identified five areas of concern to evaluate during the follow-up review. Three recommendations were implemented. For two other recommendations, progress has been made or the recommendation was partially implemented.
A copy of the follow-up report can be found here.
