Residents press board on forensic audit, audits and county finances

Public commenters used the March 24 public comment period to demand transparency following a forensic audit by Brown & Edwards that was filed with the court earlier in March. Speakers including Lloyd Carter, Doreen Billingsley, Brandy Moreno and others criticized missing records, unexplained $74,000 in credit‑card charges and other findings they said needed a fuller county response.

Doreen Billingsley urged the board to provide a fulsome financial justification and said monthly financial reports lacked adequate detail: "Your financial reports are completely inadequate," she said. Several speakers asked why staff had not provided documentation requested by the auditors and asked whether the county would supply credit‑card records going back seven years.

County staff said they had received a draft of the forensic report and additional questions from the audit firm and that some materials were being compiled and provided. Staff and county counsel said the report had been submitted to the court and that the county had responded to requests where possible, but that some requests involved historical files dating back multiple years.

The issue drew continued requests from supervisors for clarity about the status of the audit and for staff to identify whether a final or supplemental filing existed and, if available, to post materials with other financial information if permitted by the court process.