State auditor releases first part of sheriff's office audit | News

State Auditor Cindy Byrd released the first part of her office's audit of the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office budget.

Although Byrd's office has not released a summary of Part 1's findings, it has confirmed the county's budget process.

Citing meeting minutes, the audit confirmed that at the September 26, 2023 meeting of the Cleveland County Budget Board, members approved $18,360,000 for the Sheriff's Office for the 2024 fiscal year.

“All members of the budget board, except the sheriff (Chris Amason), were present at the meeting at the time of the vote,” the audit states. “The sheriff arrived just before the meeting closed. At this point, the motion to adjourn was made and all eight members of the Budget Council voted in favor of adjournment.

In February, Amason claimed the office had received only $11 million of the allocated funding and requested an additional $7 million. The sheriff's office said it requested a $23 million budget before the September budget meeting. County commissioners and Budget Board members disputed the claim that the office was underfunded. County Treasurer Jim Reynolds said at the time that the sheriff's office received about $17.06 million and would be on track to receive the full $18.36 million by end of the financial year in June. CCSO requested the audit in January.

Byrd's audit verified that the sheriff's office collected $16,780,366 from July 2023 to February 2024.

Since that February meeting, the Budget Board has approved several general fund transfers to cover CCSO payroll, outstanding debts and other expenses.

According to Byrd's office, the second part of the audit will cover purchasing card transactions, transportation assistant card transactions, purchasing charges, payroll expenses, contracts and expenses, and operations. prison finances.