State Auditor: Sheriff's office is compliant

Hardin County Sheriff Charlie Williams considers the collection of taxes by his office “a monumental task’’ each year.

State Auditor Crit Luallen on Tuesday released results of an audit of the local sheriff’s office and found “no instances of noncompliance,’’ according to a news release. The audit covered April 16, 2009, through April 15, 2010.

"When you have 24 taxing districts and you have to make sure everything goes where it needs to go, and it comes back the way it is supposed to be down to the last few pennies, it’s satisfying,’’ he said.

Williams praised Finance Officer Donna Cross and the entire staff for the successful audit.

“We have a high level of confidence in the staff at the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office,’’ he said.

The audit found that the sheriff’s financial statement “fairly presents the taxes charged, credited and paid, for the period April 16, 2009 through April 15, 2010, in conformity with the modified cash basis of accounting,” Luallen’s office said.

“We’re ecstatic that we had a good audit,’’ Williams said. “The good part is that we have done things right. We have succeeded in that.’’

Luallen also noted the audit revealed “no matters involving internal control over financial reporting and its operation that were considered to be material weaknesses.’’

The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office’s responsibilities include collecting property taxes.

The state auditor issues two sheriff’s reports annually — one on the audit of the sheriff’s tax account and the other reporting on the audit of the fee account used to operate the office.

“This is a credit to the staff we have here,’’ Williams said.
Jeff D’Alessio can be reached at (270) 505-1757 or at jdalessio@thenewsenterprise.com