Press Release from Ed Hatchett, Release Date: September 11, 2001 Audit online at: http://www.auditor.ky.gov/Public/Audit_Reports/Archive/2000GarrardFCaudit.pdf |
Commonwealth of Kentucky |
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(Frankfort - September 11, 2001)
Noting that the county-owned hospital and nursing home has not provided audited financial statements to Garrard County since 1997, State Auditor Ed Hatchett has disclaimed an opinion on the County's 2000 financial statements.
Statewide Audit Scrutiny Focused on County-Owned Hospitals and Nursing Homes The county's debt on behalf of the hospital and nursing home stood at $1.2 million on June 30, 2000, but subsequently grew to $4.5 million, primarily for payroll and operating expenses. "Judge Hasty and the Garrard County Fiscal Court have taken significant steps to assure greater accountability of the hospital, " said Hatchett. "Still, we cannot issue a clean opinion on the county's financial statement without knowing the financial condition of the hospital. My office is currently assisting the county in procuring the services of a CPA firm to conduct delinquent audits of these facilities." This is only the third time in Hatchett's administration that he has disclaimed an opinion on a financial statement. The office has issued approximately 3500 audits since Hatchett took office in 1996. Hatchett also noted that auditors from his office are focusing additional scrutiny during this audit cycle upon hospitals and other enterprises that constitute contingent liabilities for Kentucky counties. Twenty Kentucky counties own hospitals and /or nursing homes. |
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