Its audit not completed for a second year, Dougherty County misses out on $558,000 in transportation funds

ALBANY — Dougherty County missed out on more than a half-million dollars in road improvement funds because, for the second consecutive year, county officials did not complete an annual audit required by the state of Georgia.

But the county’s interim administrator said the issue is not one of omission, instead is the result of a glut in past-due audits being completed by a shrinking number of accounting firms.

“The issue really is one that is ongoing with the Office of Audits,” Dougherty interim County Administrator Barry Brooks said Monday. “With new rules added, a lot of CPA firms are no longer doing audits. That leaves the bigger firms — like Mauldin & Jenkins, which does our audits — with a backlog. And they’re trying to catch up.

“We recently completed our ’22 audit and are now working with Mauldin & Jenkins to complete 2023.”

Government agencies in the state are given six months after a set deadline to complete an audit of finances for each fiscal year. Dougherty County has failed to complete the audit on time each of the past two years.

The state has earmarked $250 million this fiscal year for road projects statewide, but Dougherty County found itself ineligible for its share of the funds due to its non-compliance with audit requirements.

“It is my understanding that the allocation of transportation funds due us will be readdressed after our ’23 audit is complete,” Brooks said. “It would pretty much have to be with so many governments’ audits past due.”

The recent departure of long-time Finance Director Martha Hendley has compounded the county’s financial issues.

An email from Bill Wright with the state’s Local Road Assistant Administration to local governments listed as non-compliant in their audits reads, in part: “For an application (for state transportation funding) to be processed, the following requirements must be met: A local government must be in audit compliance with the Department of Audits and Accounts.”

A look at the formula used to determine agencies’ funding for state transportation grants shows that the county had been in line to receive $558,492.34 in matching transportation funds.

Other area governments shown out of compliance for at least one year are the city of Valdosta, Clay County, Colquitt County, Miller County and Turner County.

Brooks said the County Commission is working on improvements in its financial and general operations, including an overhaul of ordinances (last done in 1987), a review of financial operations and a strategic plan initiative that will “include input from staff and the community,” Brooks said.

Special LogoFile Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]