Jennifer Wyman, the Bonner County Fair Boards contracted bookkeeper, told county commissioners and fair-board members Nov. 24 that she found attempts to remove closed bank accounts and void checks from the fairs QuickBooks records, which altered previously published historical financial reports. "There was an attempt to remove old closed bank accounts off of the records," Wyman said, describing voided checks and incorrect check numbers dating back to 2023 and 2024.

The finding prompted commissioners to press the fair board for a narrow, practical fix. Wyman said she began reviewing records in October but did not have a signed contract until Nov. 14 and cannot yet estimate the full scope of corrections. "I had expected that the board would identify these problems and approve for me to go and correct them," she said. Board members discussed authorizing Wyman to work by the hour with a not-to-exceed cap so she can begin reconciliations and return with a clearer cost estimate.

Why it matters: The fair runs substantial operations and relies on sponsorships and volunteers, but the packet presented to commissioners showed the fair week itself ran a deficit. The bookkeeper's work is intended to restore reliable historical records so future budget decisions rest on accurate numbers.

What the packet showed and what Wyman found: Fair revenue streams presented included campground income reported at $141,324.73 with campground costs of $23,614.90; the fair-week line showed roughly $150,000 in revenue and $234,000 in expenses, producing an operating loss of about $94,000. The board also discussed a $17,000 loss for a recent concert and other line items that required reallocation or better categorization in QuickBooks. Wyman said some changes to prior months were made on Oct. 31 and that reports run Nov. 3 differ from what had been posted earlier.

Board reaction and next steps: Commissioners and fair-board members repeatedly urged a prompt fix. One fair-board member argued the savings from replacing a prior $5,000-per-month bookkeeper with the current $1,200 monthly contract could cover corrective work; others cautioned that savings do not equate to expendable funds without proper budgeting. Tim Mahan, a fair-board member, recalled that a prior motion to engage Wyman passed unanimously at the fair board meeting and said he would try to convene a special meeting to authorize immediate corrective work.

Transparency and oversight requests: Commissioners asked that the fair board email the BOCC staff with meeting outcomes and updates once the fair board determines a scope and cost for corrections. Wyman proposed operational changes including: providing copies of debit/credit receipts for review each meeting, moving from debit to credit cards for liability protection, and producing budget-vs-actual reports that show categories and variances.

What remains unresolved: Wyman said she could not yet provide a firm cost estimate because problems appear to multiply as she digs; the fair board agreed to consider an hourly engagement with a not-to-exceed amount and to hold a special meeting if needed to approve more remediation.

The meeting ended with the commissioners moving into an executive session to discuss personnel and records-exempt matters.