Galloway Completes Audit of Clay County Sheriff’s Office

Clay County citizens are finally receiving the feedback they deserve in the state audit. As the new County Commission has dropped all frivolous lawsuits in an attempt to roadblock the audit proceedings, Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway’s office can finish the citizen-initiated audit.

I’m extremely pleased with the State Auditor’s findings - Clay County Sheriff Will Akin

Galloway’s office released a report on Wednesday that gave the overall performance of the Sheriff’s Office a rating of ‘Good’. This report is one part of a comprehensive review that Clay County citizens sought through the state audit process.

“The taxpayers that initiated this audit of Clay County made it clear they wanted a thorough, independent review of their county government. This is the fourth report we have issued to do just that,” Auditor Galloway said. “I appreciate the Sheriff’s commitment to address the findings in the report and ensure his office is operating as efficiently as possible on behalf of Clay County citizens.”

In the report Galloway made a few recommendations to help the Sheriff’s Office become more efficient. One recommendation was to improve the account process and ensure that deposits are made timely fashion, and the numerical sequence of manual receipts is accounted for.

Another recommendation was for the Sheriff’s Office to have written agreements with other counties and cities that board prisoners in the Clay County Jail, and ensure current arrangements are cost effective for the county.

“I’m extremely pleased with the State Auditor’s findings,” said Sheriff Will Akin. “We can finally move forward, address the areas noted, and close this long and overdue chapter.”

The audit of Clay County has been going on for over two and a half years. It began in December 2018 after a citizen petition was submitted to the Auditor’s Office and then verified to have more than the minimum 5,590 signatures of county residents who are registered voters. During that time several legal challenges were made by former Clay County Commissioners including a lawsuit to prevent the Auditor from conducting the citizen-mandated audit.

The newly elected county commission has since dropped all legal objections to the audit and has committed to complying with Galloway’s office to complete the process.

So far the Galloway’s Office has released reports on the Clay County clerk, public administrator and recorder of deeds. A final report on the county commission and other county offices is expected to be released before the end of the year.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this report