Audit of state treasurer's office mostly clean

Documentation surrounding salary increases was the largest point of contention in an otherwise clean audit of Missouri Treasurer Client Zweifel's office.

State Auditor Thomas Schweich's office awarded the treasurer a "good" status, the second-highest designation awarded by the auditor.

Conducted for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013, the audit found the treasurer's office provided salary increases to some employees that were not provided to others on taxpayer-funded payrolls.

In addition to a 2 percent cost of living adjustment in July 2012 for state employees paid less than $70,000 a year, the treasurer's office gave four employees salary increases between 12 and 23 percent. The total increase was $38,000 annually.

While the treasurer's office contended these salary increases were made based on job performance, changes in responsibilities and a desire to bring staff pay up to par with other state employees in similar positions, the audit found the treasurer's office did not properly prepare and maintain documentation justifying the pay increases or how the amounts of the increases were determined.

The audit noted three other highlights:

• The treasurer's assets exceed liabilities by $1.4 million, funding that may be used to meeting ongoing obligations.
• Net assets increased by $6,936, primarily due to receipts exceeding disbursements in fiscal 2013.
• At the close of the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013, the office reported fund balances of $1.4 million, an increase of $10,299 compared to the prior year.