Board approves internal control audit request of state-regulated sheriff’s salary

At the Aug. 4 Tunica County Board of Supervisors meeting the board approved a motion to request an internal control audit of the state-regulated sheriff’s salary after a presenter identified apparent inconsistencies in sheriff W-2 forms and the salary amounts designated by state law.

Why it matters: The presenter said inconsistencies could affect long-term retirement and federal-tax records and asked the board to verify whether salary amounts paid and reported for multiple years matched state-authorized figures.

Dawn (presenter, affiliation not specified) told the board she had identified inconsistencies covering multiple years and asked that the county review and verify the sheriff’s state-regulated salary records “over the past several years.” The presenter said the concern relates to records that could affect federal tax reporting and future retirement calculations.

Board members moved and seconded a motion to authorize an internal control audit; the motion carried unanimously. County staff were instructed to work with the county administrator, the county’s finance office and legal counsel to initiate the review. The transcript indicates the presenter asked that the review cover approximately 20 years of records but did not specify exact start and end years; the board’s motion did not set a narrower timebound in the meeting.

What’s next: County administration will open the audit process and report findings to the board. The transcript does not specify a timeline for completion.