Miss. auditor finds problems in Clarke County

JACKSON (AP) — State auditor Stacey Pickering has instructed the Clarke County Board of Supervisors to take steps to comply with state law governing financial records.

The auditor’s office began an emergency cash count began Monday in the circuit clerk’s office and requested cut-off statements of the current clerk’s accounts from a local bank. New accounts were opened and Pickering told supervisors to hire a CPA to bring the records into compliance.

Pickering says financial audits conducted since fiscal 2004 indicate the bank statements of the circuit clerk’s accounts have not been reconciled and there are several reporting gaps.

Clarke is the third county in the last 30 days where his office has found such problems, which Pickering says creates an environment that fosters fraud.