10/10/2025
State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick announced
today that a performance audit of Shannon County will begin this month. The
audit is part of the regular schedule of county audits conducted by the State
Auditor's Office, but was prioritized to begin this month in order to address
concerns raised by Shannon County residents and officials. The audit of the
southern Missouri county will commence Monday, October 20 when auditors conduct
an entrance meeting with county officials.
"Concerned
taxpayers and officials in Shannon County have raised a number of red flags
with our office in regard to the performance of their county government and
this audit provides a good opportunity to provide them with the answers they
want and deserve," said Auditor Fitzpatrick. "We’re eager to get to
work on behalf of the people of Shannon County as we seek to give them a better
understanding of how their government is operating, and how it can
improve."
The Missouri
State Auditor's Office last issued a performance audit of Shannon County in
2018. The audit gave
the county a rating of "fair" and found several areas where county
officials needed to make improvements. The report found the county's General
Revenue Fund was in weak condition, with disbursements exceeding receipts in
three of the four years audited and an outstanding balance owed to the Special
Road and Bridge Fund. In addition, county officials had not sufficiently
reduced the property tax levy collected in order to meet the legal requirement
of off-setting sales tax monies the county received.
Individuals may provide information confidentially for consideration
during the audit of Shannon County to the State Auditor's Whistleblower Hotline
by calling 800-347-8597, emailing moaudit@auditor.mo.gov, or by
visiting www.auditor.mo.gov/hotline.
