Auditor Fitzpatrick launches audit of Wright County

Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick announced today that his office has started a regularly scheduled audit of Wright County, located in southern Missouri. The audit officially commenced on Monday, March 25 with an entrance meeting with county officials.

The State Auditor's Office last released an audit of a Wright County government office in December 2016. The report uncovered more than $7,000 in fraudulent activity by the former Wright County Collector. The audit issued a rating of "poor" and detailed how the former collector allowed county property tax records to be manipulated in order to give about $6,500 in property tax breaks to herself, her family members and others. She also forged nearly $500 worth of checks from county accounts and unlawfully paid herself approximately $700 in railroad and utility taxes and property tax commissions. A progress report issued in 2017, found the county clerk and commission had taken on new oversight responsibilities to review property tax records to ensure payments made by the county collector and staff are properly handled. 

In November 2016, the State Auditor's Office released an audit of all of the Wright County government offices with the exception of the county collector. The report gave the county a rating of "fair" and described several issues in the prosecuting attorney's office, including a failure to separate accounting duties or perform supervisory reviews in order to create appropriate checks and balances when dealing with sensitive bank records and information. The audit also recommended the county improve procedures related to confiscated and seized property in the sheriff's office. 

Individuals may provide confidential information for consideration during the audit of Wright County to the State Auditor's Whistleblower Hotline at 800-347-8597, by email at moaudit@auditor.mo.gov or by visiting www.auditor.mo.gov/hotline.