04/26/2018
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (April 26, 2018) Today, the Missouri Ethics Commission announced final action it has taken concerning allegations that public officials in Greene County conducted inappropriate activities related to a sales tax ballot measure.
In December, Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway requested the authority to conduct a thorough, independent audit after her office received credible information through the Auditor's Whistleblower Hotline alleging public resources were misused in Greene County to advocate for the ballot measure.
While initial public statements from the Greene County Commission implied it would cooperate with the State Auditor's Office, two commissioners then supported hiring a private law firm at taxpayer expense and did not request the independent audit.
Auditor Galloway released the following statement:
The decision by the Missouri Ethics Commission shows a violation of state law in Greene County. This action confirms what I have said since these allegations came to light more than four months ago — the information brought forward is credible and concerning. However, the Missouri Ethics Commission's purview is limited and doesn't provide a full accounting of the use or misuse of public resources.
Taxpayers are now left with more unanswered questions and are on the hook for hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal bills. The best way to ensure citizens get the answers they deserve is through an independent audit that will account for how public dollars were used and make recommendations that could prevent any future wrongdoing.
I stand ready to provide this audit should Greene County Commissioners now decide to do what is right for taxpayers.
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