County staff reports unsigned payroll checks, asks to restore payroll reporting access

A county staff member told the Bourbon County Commissioners that an audit found unsigned checks were produced during a transition in commissioners and that the county’s payroll process should have caught the error.

The staff member said payroll checks were being written out of the treasurer’s account while the signature line was removed during the transition and that the lapse should have been detected by internal controls. "We’ll own up to that," the staff member said, adding that controls have since been implemented to prevent a recurrence.

The staff member said she had been locked out of pay-entry payroll access and that her credentials were changed "and it shouldn’t have been." She asked the board to restore her access to secure payroll reports but said she did not want access to employee records or direct payroll-entry authority. She also said she is currently two payroll cycles behind in accounting entries.

The clerk said she would follow up by speaking with Laura to determine why access was revoked. Commissioners also noted that next week’s meeting may include a payroll resolution; the board discussed timing and sequencing of any vote so the resolution is properly considered.

No formal disciplinary action or personnel changes were recorded in the transcript; the staff member’s request was presented as a matter for administrative follow-up.