Auditor-controller outlines automation, fraud-prevention steps and fiscal results

Tulare County Auditor-Controller, Treasurer and Tax Collector Cass Cook presented a broad overview of the office's responsibilities and recent efficiency steps on Nov. 4, highlighting automation, fraud prevention, and treasury-management results.

Cook said the office collected nearly $600 million in property taxes last year, with about $185 million allocated to the county general fund. She reported lobby collections of roughly $65 million across 27,000 transactions and said transient-occupancy-tax revenue was about $4.6 million. Cook described the county's pooled investment participation at roughly $3.3 billion and said interest earnings for pool participants totaled about $119 million last year, of which $42 million went to the county and $19 million to the county general fund.

On efficiency and fraud prevention, Cook said the office recently thwarted a fraud attempt and emphasized a mix of internal audits, software upgrades and vendor partnerships to improve collections and reduce costs. She said moving more portfolio management in-house produced approximately $2 million in advisory-fee savings over the past two years and that accounts-payable rebates exceeded $200,000 during the same period.

Board members praised the office's work; Cook said future priorities include continued automation, cross-training, and strengthened fraud prevention.