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Adams County board approves clerk audit of treasurer after public complaints and debate
Summary
Following public testimony by town officials and a town treasurer about alleged February settlement discrepancies, the Adams County Board voted to direct the county clerk to audit the county treasurer's office pursuant to state statute; the vote prompted debate over scope and whether audits should be expanded to other departments.
The Adams County Board on Tuesday adopted a resolution directing the county clerk to audit the county treasurer’s office after town officers testified to unexplained settlement differences and supervisors debated whether audits should be expanded to other county departments.
Resolution 8, introduced by the county administration and finance committee, instructs the county clerk to perform an audit pursuant to Wisconsin Statute 59.47. The resolution passed 17–2; the clerk recorded two no votes from Supervisor Podowski and Supervisor McLaughlin.
Public testimony before the vote included Town of New Haven Chairman Tory Wolfram and Town of Delton Prairie Chairman Dan McFarland supporting the audit. Doreen Olsen, treasurer for the Town of Strong Prairie, told the board she and her clerk discovered an overcharge on their February settlement, raised it with the county treasurer, and eventually escalated it to the county administrator. Olsen said the town still sees a $142.09 discrepancy that has not been explained and estimated the township is losing bank interest on a delayed payment. “We asked to have the check of $24,544.58 cut because we are losing interest on this money,” Olsen said, and urged a county review so towns would understand the reconciliation process.
Supporters said the audit was a response to reconciliation discrepancies and recommended by outside counsel after town-level concerns about settlements. County corporation counsel explained that in counties without a separate auditor the county clerk performs the statutory auditor function under Wisconsin Statute 59.47 and that the audit followed notification of settlement discrepancies by municipalities.
Several board members objected to the process and argued the action singled out an elected official. Supervisor Dozle cautioned against secretive investigative tactics and asked that audits be open and transparent; he later proposed, and then withdrew after a ruling from corporation counsel, an amendment to require third-party external audits for all departments. Supervisor McLaughlin said the board should treat all departments the same and proposed expanding audits to other county departments. That amendment was put to a vote and failed 6–13.
County officials — including the county administrator and staff in finance — said they had attempted to assist the treasurer with reconciliations and that the audit followed continuing discrepancies and a lack of cooperation for that assistance. Corporation counsel said the audit was recommended by outside counsel and begun after specific municipalities reported reconciliation concerns for January and February 2024 tax collections.
The resolution calls for the clerk’s audit; it does not prescribe a third-party auditor. Several supervisors urged the county to ensure audits are impartial and, where training is needed, to provide it.
Votes on the resolution were recorded: the clerk announced final tally as 17 yes, 2 no (Podowski and McLaughlin).
