County passes second state audit

Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter | Sep 20, 20180

Whitman County has earned a clean audit for the year 2017, marking two consecutive passing years after 12 years without.

The Office of the Washington State Auditor Pat McCarthy reported Monday to county commissioners no significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting. They identified no deficiencies that they considered material weaknesses. No instances of noncompliance were noted that were material to the financial statements of the county.

Furthermore, an “unmodified opinion” was issued on the county’s compliance with requirements applicable to its major federal program.

The results were presented by Alisha Shaw, audit manager, and Jonna Davis, audit lead, from McCarthy’s office in Spokane. They conducted the local investigation.

“Very, very clean audit,” Shaw said. “This is a big improvement. Good job.”

Last year, the county audit released for 2015 showed a lack of adequate internal controls in reporting federal awards and in financial statements schedules — among other areas to work on.

The matters were cleaned up.

“That was a good report. Good news,” said Commissioner Dean Kinzer.

The second-consecutive passing audit comes after the 2016 hiring of Sharon Cunningham as county finance director, working under County Auditor Eunice Coker.

“I’d like to thank Jessica and Sharon,” said Michael Largent, commissioner, referring to Cunningham, and her assistant, Jessica Jensema.

“They get all the credit, in my view. After 12 years of watching this process, I had a tear in the corner of my eye. It was pure dedication on the part of both individuals that got us to this point.”