09/28/2015
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway has released the follow-up report on audit findings for the government of the City of Dixon in Pulaski County. In the follow-up report, 19 out of 28 recommendations were selected for evaluation. Nine recommendations were not implemented by city officials, including a continued failure to reconcile bank accounts and utility records, which has led to significant unresolved financial discrepancies.
The City of Dixon audit, which was requested through a petition by city residents, was issued in February 2015 and earned an overall performance rating of "poor." The follow-up report, which does not include an overall rating, highlights the steps the city has taken to incorporate audit recommendations and notes areas where concerns remain.
"I commend the citizens of the City of Dixon for requesting this audit and for their continued pursuit of accountability," Galloway said. "Audits are not just an opportunity for improvement; they are an opportunity for government to demonstrate to its people that their concerns have been heard and will be addressed. I urge Dixon city officials to follow through with their commitments to improve government operations."
Three out of the 19 recommendations selected for review were successfully implemented, including requiring new security controls for the computer system to limit the city's vulnerability to unauthorized data access, instituting new procedures to secure money held on-site in a locked drawer with limited access, and establishing a bidding policy to solicit bids for goods and services. Seven additional findings were either in progress or partially implemented, including an investigation into the actions of the former city collector related to billing adjustments to her parents' water account.
The follow-up review for Dixon was primarily conducted in July 2015 and information reported is deemed accurate through that time. A link to the complete follow-up report is available here.
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Auditor Nicole R. Galloway, CPA, is the 38th auditor of the State of Missouri. She is a certified public accountant and certified fraud examiner. Prior to becoming State Auditor, Galloway served as Treasurer of Boone County, and has worked in the private sector as a corporate auditor, accountant and actuarial analyst. She has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Missouri and degrees in Applied Mathematics and Economics from Missouri University of Science and Technology.
