Clay Mayor Calls Three Audit Findings A Good Report From State

Clay County Mayor Dale Reagan said he sees the county’s three audit findings as a good financial report.

A State Comptroller’s report found three findings. The Clay County Mayor and Road Superintendent Offices did not practice formal purchase order systems. Reagan said the county does not have the resources to answer this finding.

“What they are recommending for us is to set up a centralized central purchasing department,” Reagan said. “We’ve not been able to do that due to the fact of lack of staff and the finances of it and everything.”

Reagan said the county has received the purchasing finding for several years. Reagan said before, the Comptroller’s Office only recommended establishing a central purchasing department but has since changed to a finding.

Clay County’s Mayor Office also exceeded appropriations for expenditures. Reagan said this finding was due to grant funding coming in after the close of the fiscal year.

“Even though we may have appropriated for it and everything, it didn’t get here until that fiscal year was closed out,” Reagan said. “We had to do some adjustments, but all in all, we had a great audit and well-satisfied with it, but it would be good to have no findings at all.”

The third finding was against the Circuit Court Clerk office. Previous Circuit Court Clerk Susan Birdwell was indicted for crimes revolving around alleged forgery and tampering. Birdwell was replaced earlier this year.

The financial report was for the fiscal year ended June 2021.