County audit reveals neglect, lax practices

The fiscal year 2014 audit was presented to Van Zandt County Commissioners Jan. 26 by Kevin Cashion of Gollob, Morgan and Peddy, the county’s accounting firm.

The FY2014 ended Sept. 30, 2014.

Throughout the presentation, Cashion made it clear that two points stood out during the audit.

“A lot of what you have read all stems back to lack of accountability and plain, old simple neglect,” Cashion said.

Cashion reported that the county “exceeded its liabilities at the close of the most recent fiscal year by $7,805,167 (net position). Of this amount, $1,341,988 (unrestricted net position,) may be used to meet the county’s ongoing obligations to citizens and its creditors.

“The county’s total net position increased by $842,161.

“At the close of the fiscal year, the county’s government funds reported combined ending fund balances of $2,871, 603; and increase of $688,386 in comparison with the prior year. There was $135, 725 available for spending at the county’s discretion (unassigned fund balance).

At the end of the current fiscal year, unassigned fund balance for the general fund had a balance of $140,349.”

All four precincts in the county were also under scrutiny during the audit from 2013 to 2014.   The audit provided a detailed schedule of revenues and expenditures and changes in fund balance budget and actuals for the special revenue funds of road and bridges.    

Precinct 1 reported a positive fund balance of $64,799; Precinct 2, ­$67, 159; Precinct 3, $65,204; and Precinct 4, a negative -$39,938.            

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