Ozark audit results to be unveiled Tuesday

State Auditor Susan Montee is preparing to unveil the results of a nearly yearlong audit of the city of Ozark.

Montee will deliver the report publicly at 7 p.m. May 19 in council chambers at Ozark City Hall, 205 N. 1st St., according to a news release from the auditor's office.

State law requires the auditor to conduct an audit of any political subdivision, to be paid for by the entity being audited, if enough registered voters in that subdivision sign a petition. Ozark's audit was initiated by citizen petition. Montee's office received 847 valid registered voter signatures - significantly more than the 750 required by state statute to start the process.

Ozark City Administrator Steve Childers said Montee's office hasn't yet received the official bill for the process, which covered both the city and municipal court, but original estimates said the process could cost up to $30,000.

Childers said that, while he isn't allowed to discuss results of the audit until it is released to the public, Ozark did learn from the audit that the city of Springfield went through in 2007.

"When we knew the audit was going to take place, I was reviewing the Springfield audit and the things the auditor was looking at there, and we began identifying areas where we could improve," he said. "We were way ahead, and we feel comfortable that we've been progressive in taking action toward whatever areas are covered in the audit. It was a good risk analysis to have done."