County officials talk audit findings, improvement goals

After a report from the Kentucky State Auditor’s Office that had four findings on it for Christian Fiscal Court recently, county officials held a public forum Monday to discuss those findings and hopefully ease some concerns held by the citizens.

Three of those findings were repeat findings on the 2025 audit from the 2024 audit, but County Treasurer Natalie Pyle explained that while they may hold the same designation, it does not mean the exact same problems persisted. In fact, Pyle says several of the findings this year, including the ‘failed to implement effective internal controls over financial reporting’, were simple human error from marking or filing the incorrect information.

Judge-Executive Jerry Gilliam wanted to assure the people that there was no misuse of funds, fraudulent activity or misappropriation of taxpayer dollars. He says they already have plans in place to improve the procedures and reporting practices that need improvement, as recommended by the auditors office.

There was one new finding, where the Auditor reported that the Fiscal Court failed to approve cash transfers prior to them being made. Judge Gilliam says they’ve been using a fiscal court order from 1986 that allowed them to move money between funds without approval from magistrates, and that method has never been flagged before—but it was this year. Moving forward, he says they’ll adjust and get all cash transfers approved before moving money around.

Some clarity was given about the $17 million loan from the state that will allow County Government to purchase Commerce Park II. The judge says it’s a 10-year, zero interest loan that will be paid off overtime as businesses move into the park.

A citizen at the meeting questioned what happens at the end of that 10-years if nothing sells, and while Judge Gilliam says they can look to extend the loan if need be, he’s confident they’ll get it sold, calling Commerce Park II prime real-estate for industry.

Jeff Springer attended the meeting and spoke, saying he took issue with the time of the public forum, which was 2 p.m. on a Monday, and that it doesn’t really speak to transparency to have it in the middle a work day. Gilliam responded that he understood the concern, but his administration and this Fiscal Court have made numerous effort to be accessible to the public, and they will continue to do so to the best of their ability.

Ultimately, officials say their goal is to have a clean audit, and they're striving towards making it a reality.