Chesterfield County Council approves diagnostic audit and votes to send letter to governor, treasurer over treasurer's-office concerns
Loading...
Summary
Council authorized a diagnostic audit of the treasurer's office (estimated up to $12,500) and later voted to send an immediate letter to the governor and state treasurer expressing concerns about leadership in the county treasurer's office.
Chesterfield County Council approved a two-step approach to financial oversight and signaled concern about leadership in the treasurer's office at its first meeting of 2026.
The finance committee recommended a diagnostic audit — a preliminary review estimated at 40 to 50 hours for up to about $12,500 — to determine whether a broader forensic audit is warranted. The diagnostic audit would examine department structure, data availability and internal controls and return a summary with recommendations. Mr. Smallwood moved the measure and Bishop McClendon seconded; the council approved the diagnostic audit by voice vote.
Later in the meeting, following an executive session that addressed personnel and legal matters, Bishop McClendon moved and the council approved a separate motion to send an immediate letter to the South Carolina governor and the state treasurer expressing the council's concerns with leadership in the county treasurer's office. Council members clarified the letter was to be sent immediately rather than waiting until after the diagnostic audit.
Council members emphasized that the diagnostic audit is intended to be a lower-cost, targeted step to guide any decision on a fuller forensic audit and that the letter is a formal way to inform state officials about the council's concerns while the county pursues technical review.
The motions were approved by voice votes; there was no recorded roll-call tally in the public minutes.
