Jackson County needs to improve controls and procedures in its assessment department to ensure effective and efficient future reassessments, an audit released today by State Auditor Nicole Galloway says. Those were some of the recommendations in the final report of the Auditor’s independent review of Jackson County government finances. The county received a rating of “fair.” […]
Tag: expenses
Missouri State Auditor says Public Corruption and Fraud Division has produced results for taxpayers
Auditor Galloway outlined the successes of her Public Corruption and Fraud Division, which has contributed significantly to her office’s fight against public corruption. Auditor Galloway launched the division and announced efforts to direct increased resources towards investigations of fraud and abuse at the start of 2019. “I am proud of the work of my team and […]
Community Resource Center in Chillicothe receives grant to reduce homelessness in 6 north Missouri counties
The Community Resource Center in Chillicothe has received a grant for up to $500,000 to reduce homelessness in six counties, including Livingston, Linn, Caldwell, Daviess, Grundy Carroll. The grant will enable the resource center to provide help to eligible persons or families in those counties. Funding is through the CARES Act Coronavirus Emergency Solutions Grant […]
Lack of adequate funding has left county taxpayers bearing incarceration costs of state prisoners
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway has released an audit of the County Reimbursement Program, which reimburses county governments for certain costs for housing and transporting state prisoners. The program is administered by the Missouri Department of Corrections. The audit found that a combination of delayed reimbursements due to lack of state funding and increasing incarceration […]
Gallatin Board of Aldermen approve city budget
The Gallatin Board of Aldermen approved an ordinance approving the city budget at a meeting Monday evening. Anticipated revenues for the fiscal year ending December 31st, 2021 are $5,413,717.67, and expected expenditures total $5,227,634.53. That leaves an anticipated surplus of $186,083.14. The ordinance will go into effect on January 1st. The board also approved resolutions […]
Grundy County Commission and COVID-19 Relief Fund Task Force completes distribution of $1.5 million in COVID-19 funding
The Grundy County Commission and COVID-19 Relief Fund Task Force have distributed the $1.15 million in CARES Act funding the county received in early May. Presiding Commissioner Phillip Ray reports the funds were distributed to entities impacted by COVID-19 based on a formula that utilized assessed valuation and accounted for the portion of each taxable […]
North Mercer Board of Education approves resolution relating to COVID-19
The North Mercer R-3 Board of Education approved a resolution at a special meeting the night of December 14th related to COVID-19. Superintendent Dan Owens reports $750 will be paid to each district employee for additional work and expenses due to the pandemic. The board also voted to keep the health insurance benefit the same […]
Grundy County Commission approves COVID-19 funding allocations; receives 2021 budget proposals
The Grundy County Commission approved COVID-19 fund allocations on December 15th and received several fiscal year 2021 budget proposals. COVID-19 Relief Fund approved expenses included for the Jewett Norris Library of $6,122.44, Grundy County $19,052.42, the Senior Tax Board $432.37, the Families and Friends of the Developmentally Disabled $9,181.97, the Sunnyview Nursing Home of $103,605.56, […]
Grundy County Commission approves additional COVID-19 relief funds; culverts ordered to replenish inventory
The Grundy County Commission approved COVID-19 Relief Fund allocations for eight entities on December 8th. The Spickard R-2 School District was approved for $21,115.04, the Laredo R-7 School District $891.94, the Pleasant View R-6 School District $26,406.85, the Grundy County R-5 School District $30,720.28, Grundy County $8,162.46, the City of Trenton $1,845, North Central Missouri […]
Arkansas project manager sentenced to two years in prison in connection with COVID-19 relief fraud
A project manager employed by a major retailer was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for fraudulently seeking more than $8 million in forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. […]
19 Missouri residents indicted by grand jury for $1.2 million insurance fraud conspiracy
Nineteen defendants have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a $1.2 million insurance fraud conspiracy that involved false claims of injuries suffered in car accidents. Lawrence Courtney Lawhorn, 32, and Latoya Marie Brown, 35, who resided in Columbia and in the Kansas City area; Lauren Courtney Luque, 34, Michael Jadon […]
Trenton City Council approves wage increase for police department; approves preparing ordinance calling for “Use Tax” vote
The Trenton City Council Monday night voted to have an ordinance prepared to call for a public vote on a proposed local use tax within the city of Trenton. The council also approved recommended wage increases for the Trenton Police Department in an effort to attract candidates for police officer. Both topics had gone to […]
Trenton Finance Committee to recommend raising pay of Trenton police officers and dispatchers
The Trenton Finance Committee on Tuesday evening, November 17, 2020, approved recommending to the city council raising the pay of police officers and dispatchers. City Administrator Ron Urton says raises are needed to help attract and retain officers. He reports the recommendation involves raising officers’ pay $3.00 per hour and dispatchers $1.00 per hour. It […]
Seven charged in connection with COVID-relief fraud scheme involving at least 80 fraudulent loan applications
Seven individuals across two states were charged in an indictment unsealed for their alleged participation in a scheme to obtain approximately $16 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Amir Aqeel, 52, and Pardeep Basra, 51, both of […]
Benefit dinner for Lita Terry set for November 21st in Jamesport
A benefit dinner will be held in Jamesport for a Gilman City resident diagnosed with Stage Three Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. A fish fry for Lita Terry will be at the Spillman Event Center on November 21st starting at 2 o’clock. Free will donations will be accepted. There will also be a chili cook-off with a $20 […]
‘Won’t be able to survive’: Childcare centers serving low-income Missourians face closure
(Missouri Independent) – Cortaiga Collins doesn’t know how much longer her childcare center will survive. Only about a dozen children have been attending regularly amid the pandemic. Under normal circumstances, she used to serve as many as 100. She’s already had to reduce the hours that Good Shepherd Preschool and Infant/Toddler Center in St. Louis […]
Trenton City Council approves repairs for 19-year old fire truck; approves health insurance rates for 2021
Trenton City Council on Monday night authorized more repairs to a 19-year-old fire department truck. The council also accepted the employee health insurance rates for next year. Fire Chief Brandon Gibler told the council the American LaFrance white fire truck was taken to an Oak Grove business to diagnose repairs that are needed to the […]
Missouri State Auditor releases reports on Putnam and Sullivan County audits
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway has released recommendations for Sullivan and Putnam counties after contracted audits of financial statements. The Sullivan County audit was for the two years ending December 31st, 2019, and the Putnam County audit was for the year ended December 31st, 2019. Recommendations for both counties include periodically reviewing their actual expenditures […]
Initiative connects rural working families with valuable tax credit info
Starting in the 2020 tax season, more rural Missourians in need will be able to learn about their eligibility for the federal earned income tax credit (EITC), one of the nation’s largest anti-poverty tools targeting low- and moderate-income working families. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health has awarded $1.35 […]
Audio: Green Hills Animal Shelter to host Barktober Fest on October 24th
The Green Hills Animal Shelter of Trenton will hold its Second Barktober Fest as a fundraiser. Social time will begin at the Black Silo Winery of Trenton on the evening of October 24th at 5 o’clock. Dinner will be served at 6 o’clock, and an auction will be at 7 o’clock. Charlie Bacon, Travis Mullenix, […]