Linn auditor wants state audit of Linn County

Linn County Auditor Joel Miller is asking State Auditor David Vaudt for an audit of Linn County.

The development is the latest, and may be the last, in Miller's effort questioning some county departments' practice of maintaining separate and independent accounts.

“It will be, for me,” Miller said.

Miller sent a letter to Vaudt's office Monday seeking “a complete or partial audit, as the case may be, of the financial transactions and condition of the funds of the local government.”

Miller thinks it's illegal for the county sheriff and recorder's offices to maintain the accounts, which are funded through fines and fees, not taxes, to conduct day-to-day business. After County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden called his quest “a legal snipe hunt” last fall, Miller put the matter on hold pending completion of the county's annual audit by the Arizona-based firm Eide Bailey's Dubuque office.

Eide Bailey's audit found nothing amiss in the county's books, but Miller says the firm considered only the accounts' balances, not whether they're legal under state law.

The Eide Bailey accountant “indicated it was beyond his scope to confirm whether things complied with state law,” Miller said. “I think the state auditor will take a wider view.”

Miller discussed his request this morning at the county supervisors' regular session with department heads.

“The auditors check to see that we're in compliance with the law,” District 3 Supervisor Ben Rogers said after the meeting. “We received a clean audit from a reputable accounting firm who has looked over our books. It seems to me (Miller's) not pleased with the answer he's received.”

Vaudt's office replied this afternoon with a letter to Miller and the supervisors. Susan Battani, a member of Vaudt's staff, wrote a decision will be made after Eidie Bailey's work is reviewed.

Miller said he's preparing a followup letter to Vaudt's office outlining his specific concerns. He said he'll respect the state auditors' decision, even if it's not to conduct another Linn County audit.

“I realize I could be told I'm totally off base, and that's a posibility I'm willing to accept,” he said. “I'm not willing to accept not doing anything.”