State, finance group could help county books

County Administrative Director Gary Petrovich told county commissioners Monday that the state auditor’s office will assist the county auditor in solving its financial reporting problems.

A course of action for the state assistance will be worked out at a July 23 meeting with the state office and county officials.

“This will be a long-term solution,” Petrovich said. “It might take months, if not years.”

Petrovich said it’s important for the county to correct any accounting errors and to get back its good standing with Standard & Poor’s Rating Services.

In April the credit rating company suspended its long-term rating on the county’s general obligation bonds. The county’s rating had been in the “A” bracket.

“A good credit rating gives us more credibility with financial institutions,” he said.

Petrovich is a member of Government Finance Officers Association, the national organization which helps promote professional management of government finances. He said the county could also get assistance from that organization but a formal agreement hasn’t been reached at this point.

He added any charges would depend on the scope of work the association does for the county.

County Auditor Eunice Coker told the Gazette Tuesday with the guidance of the state auditor’s office and the finance officers association, she feels good about the direction of the finance department in her office.

She said commissioners have approved paying a staffer a comparable salary when she steps in for the finance manager.

The employee, Christine Mathis, now works part-time in payroll and part-time in accounts payable and has been assisting county finance manager Cinnamon Brown since April.

Brown is due to go on medical leave within the next month and will be on leave for the rest of the summer, Coker said. Mathis will take over that position in Brown’s absence.

Coker said the commissioners are still balking at adding any employees in the finance department, although Coker has requested at least one additional employee.

She expects the state audit for 2013 will begin within the next few weeks and is optimistic about its outcome.