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A report by State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick found that Butler County overtaxed residents approximately $222,770 over three years due to a calculation error by the county clerk. The audit identified 10 other findings and gave the county an overall “fair” rating.
The report highlights that the county clerk did not properly calculate property tax levy reductions for 2020, 2021 and 2022, resulting in excessive tax collections. Butler County voters had approved a half-cent sales tax with a provision to reduce property taxes by 50% of sales tax collected. However, the clerk did not consider the difference between the previous year’s estimated and actual sales tax collections. The county clerk will now agree to modify the calculation process and recommend to the county commission that voluntary reductions be made in odd-numbered years to offset the overlevy.
Another issue identified in the audit includes excessive and unreasonable fees charged by the Office of Management. A survey of 11 districts found that fees account for between 17% and 226% of a district’s average monthly income, with annual clearing fees ranging from $289 to $1,359. In some cases, the district was charged the cost of voiding and reissuing checks and reconciling bank accounts during months of no financial activity.
In addition, administrators were found to be late in paying bills for some wards, with payment deadlines exceeding 30 days late and in one case payment exceeding 60 days. The firm also needs to promptly submit annual and final accounts and separate accounting operations with proper supervision.
The county collector was also cited for withholding $68,740 more from assessment fund collections than allowed by state law. Collector did not follow procedures to monitor unpaid checks, resulting in more than 80 checks totaling more than $18,000 remaining unpaid for more than a year.
The report also found that the Disability Care Commission failed to monitor payments and ensure the appropriate use of funds provided to nonprofit organizations. These companies did not provide the board with required documentation, such as progress reports, financial records, and information about real estate transactions, making it difficult for the board to ensure that funds were used appropriately. I did.
Other issues raised in the audit included:
Lack of control over the county’s property tax system More than $23,000 in unpaid checks in the prosecutor’s office A $21,732 increase in the sheriff’s median salary in violation of state law Inadequate security controls for county computers Electronic information record management and retention policies lack of communication
Click or tap this link to view the full audit report.
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