The Annual Financial Report for Grundy County for 2015 and 2016 has been released.
McBride, Lock, and Associates, LLC of Kansas City, Missouri conducted the audit and gave several recommendations.
The recommendations involved the Senior Citizens Tax Board bank reconciliations, budgetary controls, and Senate Bill 40 Board collateral. The certified public accountants recommended the Senior Citizens Tax Board ensure formal bank reconciliations are performed on a monthly basis and that evidence of the reconciliation or review of the bank statement is maintained. The Seniors Tax Fund Board treasurer responded by telling the auditor future bank statements will be properly noted at the time of reconciliation.
The accountants recommended the county ensure compliance with the state statutes by adopting a formal budget for all funds, refraining from approving expenditures in excess of budgeted amounts as well as from approving expenditures that create deficit fund balances or adopting a budget with a deficit fund balance.
They also recommended budgetary amendments to be discussed in a public meeting and formally adopted by the county commission if the originally adopted budget is inadequate to finance unforeseen expenditures. The county’s response was that county departments did go over budget, but the county did not go over budget overall.
The county will watch closer on the department budget goals, it will add the Fred Fitch and Crippled Children Trust Funds to the county budget with the 2018 budget, and the Deputy Sheriff Salary Supplement will remain with a deficit balance monthly until the state reimburses the county.
On the topic of Senate Bill 40 Board collateral, the accountants recommended that the board ensures all deposits of public funds are properly secured and that the level of pledge collateral is periodically monitored to ensure compliance with the state statutes. The board responded by providing evidence from their bank of pledged securities in the board’s name effective July 20th, 2017.
McBride, Lock, and Associates reported Grundy County had resolved or partially resolved findings in the audit report issued for 2013 and 2014.
