03/30/2017
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway today issued a summary report showing just 60% of local governments followed a state law requiring annual financial reports to be submitted to the State Auditor's Office. Missouri law requires cities, taxing districts, and other local political subdivisions in the state to submit an annual report of financial transactions within six months of the end of their fiscal year.
"We continue to see poor compliance with the financial reporting law, which highlights the need for stronger measures to enforce compliance," Auditor Galloway said. "Financial reports are an essential transparency tool for citizens."
Of the 3,259 political subdivisions with a deadline of filing their annual financial report during calendar year 2016, only 1,945 (60%) filed on time. Approximately 30% failed to file a report at all, and the remaining 10% either filed late or submitted incomplete information.
Total reports due: 3,259 (100%)
1,945 (60%) received on-time
321 (10%) received late or incomplete (only covering part of the fiscal year)
982 (30%) not received
Auditor Galloway has called on delinquent government bodies to file required reports, and has directed her staff to follow up to increase compliance. Auditor Galloway notifies political subdivisions when reports are due, and sends notices of noncompliance when they fail to file required reports.
Political subdivision's financial reports are searchable online. A complete list of the political subdivisions that submitted financial reports is included in the full report, along with a list of subdivisions that failed to file required financial reports, filed partial financial reports, or filed late financial reports. The complete report is available online here.
