Wednesday, February 5, 1997
Commissioners anxious for timely financial
reports
By MARY HOPKINS / Staff Writer
Taylor County commissioners said they refuse to wait longer
than May 1 for Treasurer Laura Browder to turn in reports in a
timely manner.
County Judge Lee Hamilton said Tuesday afternoon that commissioners
became concerned about timely filing of financial reconciliations
and bank account statements about five months after Browder started
work.
Commissioners met with Browder in closed session after their
weekly meeting.
Outside auditor M. Carol McDonald has been working with Browder
to complete the tasks at extra cost to the county.
"We've about completed an audit on a new computer system,"
said Browder.
It's an improvement over the formerly unwieldy 27-year-old
system, she added. "With any new computer system, weird things
happen."
"But I'm very anxious to let constituents know that I'm
watching the system to make sure there are no irregularities,"
Browder said. In an interview later in the day, Browder's hands
shook as she said in a calm voice that the office was a "big
mess" when in August 1995 she was appointed to the unexpired
term vacated by former treasurer Anna Moore. At the time time
the treasurer's office had been unmanned for about nine months.
"There was no staff, and no one to show me the ropes.
I've also tried to run the office with one less person,"
Browder said. "I'm not sure if needing one less person has
put us behind."
She said the May 1 deadline is acceptable to her, however.
Cutting the staff by one person has reduced the treasurer's
office operating costs, Browder said. For fiscal year October
1995 through September 1996 the costs were $67,282 compared with
$85,016 for 1995. The cost was $96,189 for 1994 and $91,726 for
1993.
Browder said she suspects commissioners are sensitive to the
situation because of the problems with Moore.
"Before, things just rocked along and no one paid any
attention" to the the treasurer's office, Browder said. But
then there was a detrimental investment and Moore's alleged withdrawals
from a Christmas Club account.
"Then everyone thinks twice," Browder said.
Hamilton said results of the closed session with Browder were
that by May 1:
- All Taylor County bank account statements through March 31
would be reconciled, and thereafter within 30 days of the end
of the preceding month.
- The treasurer would turn in to commissioner's court monthly
financial reports detailing financial transactions (reports that
are required by law) in a timely manner.
If by May 1 Browder has not accomplished both, Hamilton said
the commissioners will meet again in closed session to explore
other options for handling the Taylor County accounts.
Two possibilities, Hamilton said, are hiring an outside firm
to perform the duties or transferring some of them to another
county office.
"We're not looking at abolishing the (treasurer's) office,"
Hamilton said. "I am very hopeful she will be able to get
her work caught up and go about her business by May 1." Some
of the treasurer's other duties are tracking revenue and providing
receipts for it to the auditor.
The county is in very good financial condition, and revenue
and expenditures are on target, Hamilton said, and the portfolio
is doing well. Auditor Bridget McDowell keeps an accurate general
ledger, he said.
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Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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