Overton Sees Five Findings From State Financial Report

Overton County had a total of five audit findings as reported in its 2022 comptroller’s financial report

Committee Chair Donna Savage presented the audit report to the full county commission Monday night. She said there was one finding in the County Executive’s office, two in the Director of Schools’ office, and two in the county clerk’s office.

“I think they can address and fix them by next year because some of the audit findings they did not know they couldn’t do that,” Savage said. “In the past, they were able to do that, but now they’re not able to do that, so kind of nobody told anybody that you could do that or couldn’t do that.”

Savage said in her mind, the findings were not major: The County Executive’s Office finding was that county commissioners were not paid in compliance with state statute. Findings in the school system include an inappropriate transfer of funds and a school department under review. Finally, the County Clerk’s Office findings include Clerk Victoria Looper pleading guilty to a violation of the Computer Act and improperly maintained commission minutes.

She said each department will take the findings and use them as they go through policies and procedures in order to address them. She said once these offices make sure their operations are in compliance, they will be back on track.

“I just pray next year that we have a smooth, clean audit,” Savage said. “That’s my reaction to that.”