The Local Government Commission will monitor county finance for at least the next year, county Manager Eddie Madden told commissioners last night.
“It’d much like being audited by the IRS,” Madden explained.
The LGC cited deficiencies in the 2019-20 audit, Madden said. It’s likely the LGC will also issue a unit letter to the county for the 20-21 audit.
Madden noted that the problems occurred before most of the board was elected, and before he was hired earlier this year.
“Still, you are the ones who will have to deal with it,” Madden said. “We were three quarters into the budget year when I started working.”
The board saw a major shift to a Republican majority in last fall’s election, with three incumbents being replaced. Then-County Manager Mike Stephens resigned shortly after the election, and Finance Officer Bobbie Faircloth was suspended and escorted from county property in January. She retired in May. Some of the problems noted in the previous audits were described as having been an issue for years.
Madden was hired in March, and brought Jay Leatherman onboard as finance officer.
The unit letter would normally have been mailed to county officials, Madden said, but he wanted to explain to the commissioners exactly what to expect.
The county already had difficulties with the LGC over the West Columbus Elementary School project and the Whiteville City Schools building program. Those issues were settled after negotiations with the LGC and a review of the financing.
The LGC will review all the county’s finances, Madden said, and will oversee next year’s budget process. The Commission has the authority to take over management of local governments in extreme cases.
The announcement came after Madden gave an update to the board on changes made in the county’s administration and management since his hiring. Madden has saved $275,000 through combining positions, leaving some jobs unfilled, moving to a fleet program for county vehicles, and eliminating rent payments on some county offices.
