Luallen Releases Audit of
Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office



See the audit report for Full Details

Crit Luallen
Auditor of Public Accounts
105 Sea Hero Road, Suite 2
Frankfort, KY 40601

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(Frankfort - July 30, 2008) State Auditor Crit Luallen today released the audit of the 2007 financial statement of the Lawrence County Sheriff, Garrett Roberts. State law requires the Auditor to annually audit the accounts of each county sheriff. In compliance with this law, the Auditor issues two sheriff’s reports each year: one reporting on the audit of the sheriff’s tax account and the other reporting on the audit of the fee account used to operate the office.

The audit found that the Sheriff’s financial statement presents fairly the revenues, expenditures, and excess fees of the Lawrence County Sheriff in conformity with the regulatory basis of accounting.

As part of the audit process, the Auditor must comment on non-compliance with laws, regulations, contracts and grants. The Auditor must also comment on material weaknesses involving the internal control over financial operations and reporting.

The audit contains the following comment: the Sheriff’s office lacks adequate segregation of duties. This deficiency occurs when someone has custody over assets and the responsibility of recording financial transactions. The bookkeeper collects, deposits, and records all receipts. In addition, the bookkeeper prepares all bank reconciliations. In auditors’ judgment, these control deficiencies could adversely affect the Sheriff’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report accurate financial information. The audit recommends the Sheriff’s office segregate these duties or implement the following compensating controls that would help offset the lack of adequate segregation of duties:

  • Cash recounted and deposited by the Sheriff. The Sheriff should document the recounting of cash by initialing the deposit ticket.
  • Surprise cash counts by the Sheriff.
  • Budget to actual comparisons performed by someone other than the bookkeeper.

The Sheriff’s responsibilities include collecting property taxes, providing law enforcement and performing services for the county fiscal court and courts of justice. The Sheriff’s office is funded through statutory commissions and fees collected in conjunction with these duties.

 

Crit Luallen
Auditor of Public Accounts
105 Sea Hero Road, Suite 2
Frankfort, KY 40601
WEB:
www.auditor.ky.gov/