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Christian County audit finds low funds, records issues

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Cash balances in Christian County's general revenue fund are declining and property tax receipts have not been adequately reviewed, according to results of a state audit released Thursday night.

The audit, spurred by a citizen petition, found that the cash balance of the county's general revenue fund has dropped from $3.3 million at the end of 2007 - equal to roughly 25 percent of total disbursements and transfers out that year - to a projected balance of less than $1 million at the end of 2010, or roughly 8 percent of total disbursements and transfers out.  

The audit also pointed to the the county's Common I road fund, noting that balances fell below zero in both 2007 and 2008 and that invoices were paid late from that fund.

In its response to the audit, the county noted that it was using those funds to repair roads damaged by multiple natural disasters, including the 2008 ice storm, adding that federal reimbursements for those payments came in later than expected, causing the need for the late payments from the fund.

In the property tax arena, the audit found taxes and tax formulas were not being properly reviewed. As a result, county school districts are owed $380,000 in money that is currently in the county's general fund coffers. The county has since made plans to disburse the additional money to the schools, according to the report.  

The state auditor's office will conduct an audit of any state governmental entity if it receives a petition from enough qualified members of that entity. For cities or counties with at least 1,000 voters in the last gubernatorial election, at least 15 percent of voters must sign the petition to launch an audit, and the entity being audited must bear the cost.[[In-content Ad]]

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