There is no victim or deceased identified in the provided text. : “Pemiscot County Audit: Insights from Missouri State Auditor”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick has released a new audit report on Pemiscot County, highlighting both areas of progress and areas in need of improvement. The report, which rates the county’s performance as “fair,” emphasizes the need for increased transparency and accountability in county government.

One of the key issues identified in the audit is the questionable use of a county credit card. The County Clerk used her county credit card to purchase 25 gift cards for a holiday party, without establishing guidelines for appropriate use. Similarly, the County Sheriff made six credit card transactions without submitting any supporting documentation. The report recommends that the county establish clear guidelines for the use of county credit cards and a policy for food and gift purchases.

Another area of concern is the County Collector’s management of the property tax system. The audit found that the county did not adequately restrict access to the system, allowing the County Collector and her deputies to make changes to individual tax records without independent review. Additionally, the Collector did not always use the actual date of receipt when recording payments, and failed to retain documentation for mailed-in payments. As a result, some taxpayers’ penalties, commissions, and fees for late payments were not properly assessed.

The audit also identified lacking controls and procedures in the offices of the County Sheriff, County Clerk, and County Treasurer. The Prosecuting Attorney’s Office was found to have failed to timely transmit victim restitution and related fees, totaling $27,353 and $37,440, respectively. Other findings include inadequate electronic data security, inadequate records management and retention policy for electronic communication, and a failure to timely submit county budgets to the State Auditor’s Office as required by state law.

Additionally, the audit report notes that the county experienced fraudulent activity in its primary bank account, committed by a third party. However, county personnel took immediate action to investigate the issue and have implemented a positive pay system with the bank to detect and prevent fraudulent transactions. The bank has reimbursed the county for all identified fraudulent transactions.

This is not the first audit to raise concerns about Pemiscot County’s performance. A previous audit released in 2019 also rated the county as “fair.” The full report of the current audit can be accessed here.

Auditor Fitzpatrick acknowledges the efforts made by county officials to address past audit recommendations but emphasizes the need for continued improvement. He emphasizes that taxpayers deserve an efficient, effective, and trustworthy government that safeguards their hard-earned tax dollars. He commends the county officials for their progress and urges them to diligently work towards providing accountable and transparent government to county residents.

In conclusion, the audit report highlights the progress made by Pemiscot County in certain areas, but also points out the need for increased transparency and accountability. With the implementation of the recommendations outlined in the report, the county can work towards providing a more efficient and effective government for its residents..