Luallen Releases Audit of See the audit report for Full Details |
Crit Luallen |
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(Frankfort - August 25, 2008)
State Auditor Crit Luallen today released the audit of the Sheriff’s Settlement - 2007 Taxes for Pendleton County Sheriff, Charles Peoples, for the period April 20, 2007 through April 17, 2008. 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 fairly presents the taxes charged, credited and paid, for the period April 20, 2007 through April 17, 2008, in conformity with the modified cash 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 over receipts and disbursements. Most employees of the Sheriff’s office collect tax payments. The Sheriff prepares the daily bank deposit, reconciles daily receipts to the daily collection report, and posts items to the receipts ledger. The Sheriff prepares the monthly bank reconciliation that is agreed to the receipts and disbursements ledgers. The Sheriff also prepares checks for tax distribution and posts to the disbursements ledger. The Sheriff signs tax distribution checks. Good internal controls dictate that the same employee should not handle, record, and reconcile receipts and disbursements. The audit recommends that the Sheriff segregate some of these duties in order to strengthen internal controls. 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. |
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