Board authorizes veterans-millage audit and moves Veterans Committee per diem to general fund

The Mackinac County Board of Commissioners on March 13 authorized a single audit to track veterans millage monies from 2018 to the present and capped the work at $5,000. Commissioner John Kling moved the authorization and Commissioner Judy St. Louis-Scott seconded; the roll call vote was Kimberling, Kling, Schroeder and St. Louis-Scott in favor with Commissioner Mike Patrick absent. Kling said he would contact auditors to obtain price quotes for the work.

Separately, the board voted to move Veterans Committee per diem payments out of special millage fund 276 into the county general fund. Commissioner Kling moved and Commissioner Austin Kimberling seconded the measure; the roll call vote recorded the same four yes votes with one absence. Commissioners noted that other county committees have per diem payments paid from the general fund, not from special funds.

During public comment, Veterans Committee member Dave Coven said he was pleased that the board approved the audit request. The transcript also records that the Veterans Committee had asked for financial clarification because prior mediation agreements between the board and the committee were not adhered to; the requested audit is intended to clarify how millage monies were handled after those changes.

The authorization instructs county leadership to obtain quotes and pursue a single audit covering the stated years, with the spending cap of $5,000. The board did not specify a firm auditor at the meeting; Commissioner Kling will solicit price estimates.