07/08/2024 - Jefferson City, MO
With taxpayer money
potentially missing from the Stone County Collector's Office, Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick this week announced an audit of the office with the goal of
uncovering any financial irregularities. The audit was requested by the Stone
County Commission after commissioners discovered the possibility of missing
money. Auditors from Fitzpatrick's office met with county officials to begin
the audit process on Tuesday, July 2.
"We will conduct a
thorough review of the office with the goal of providing answers for the Stone
County Commission and all taxpayers in Stone County who deserve to know if
their tax dollars have been misused or even stolen," said Auditor Scott
Fitzpatrick. "If we discover money is missing from the Stone County
Collector's Office, we will do everything we can to ensure those who are
responsible are held accountable for their actions."
The Missouri State
Auditor's Office last audited the Stone County Collector in 2021. That report gave the office a
rating of excellent and identified no significant deficiencies in internal
controls and no significant noncompliance with legal provisions. Prior to that,
the State Auditor's Office released an audit of Stone County in 2020. The report gave the county a rating of fair and identified some concerns with
controls and procedures in the Collector's Office.
Individuals may provide confidential information for consideration
during the audit of the Stone County Collector's Office 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.
