Tulare Public Cemetery District accepts March–May financials contingent on audit after public raises questions about $200,000 transfer and records

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors, convening as the Tulare Public Cemetery District board, voted 4–0 on July 8 to accept the district’s financial statements for March, April and May on the condition that the results be verified by an independent audit. Supervisor McCarrie made the motion; Supervisor Townsend seconded. Supervisor Shuckling did not vote because she was absent.

The vote followed extensive public comment and presentations by district staff that raised questions about internal controls, an unresolved transfer of $200,000 tied to pre-need funds and a recent surge in some expenses. The board emphasized the acceptance was contingent on an audit that will trace transfers and reconcile discrepancies identified by residents and the county’s bookkeeping.

District finance staff and the district manager described technical issues in how the county posted some transactions and outlined next steps to resolve outstanding transfers. Miss Bernardo, presenting the reports, said there had been “a hiccup from the county” in which a deposit meant for July posted to the endowment-unreserved account and was corrected in April. She also told trustees that tax revenue timing…