Finance transcript library / Ottawa County Finance
Ottawa County Financial Report
Undated - Financial Statement Audit - Embedded text
UndatedFiscal year
Financial Statement AuditDocument category
100,171Transcript characters
text layerExtraction method
Audit Review Notes
- This is an Ottawa County Financial Statement Audit source document. Compare appropriations, estimated revenue, cash surplus, ad valorem, sinking fund, and fund-balance lines against the SAI/audit reports and the county tax roll.
- For financial statements, compare audit findings, cash balances, receivables/payables, compliance notes, and prior-year adjustments against the Estimate of Needs documents.
Money Trail Terms Found
total expenditures: 2 general fund: 18 sales tax: 26 appropriation: 12 ad valorem: 9 debt: 5 grant: 10 jail: 8 sheriff: 29 audit: 77
Largest Dollar Amounts Detected
- $1,240,000,000
- $1,220,000,000
- $1,214,490,192
- $1,200,000,000
- $1,180,000,000
- $1,170,091,887
- $1,167,551,237
- $1,161,084,683
- $1,160,000,000
- $1,140,000,000
- $1,120,000,000
- $1,100,000,000
Automated extraction can miss or misread numbers, especially in OCR. Verify against the PDF before relying on a figure.
SEO Text Transcript
COUNTY AUDIT
Ottawa
County
For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015
Oklahoma State
Auditor & Inspector
Gary A. Jones, CPA, CFE
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
AND INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
This publication, issued by the Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector’s Office as authorized by 19 O.S. § 171, has not
been printed, but is available on the agency’s website (www.sai.ok.gov) and in the Oklahoma Department of Libraries
Publications Clearinghouse Digital Prairie Collection (http://digitalprairie.ok.gov/cdm/search/collection/audits/)
pursuant to 65 O.S. § 3-114.
June 9, 2017
TO THE CITIZENS OF
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
Transmitted herewith is the audit of Ottawa County, Oklahoma for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015. The
audit was conducted in accordance with 19 O.S. § 171.
A report of this type can be critical in nature. Failure to report commendable features in the accounting and
operating procedures of the entity should not be interpreted to mean that they do not exist.
The goal of the State Auditor and Inspector is to promote accountability and fiscal integrity in state and
local government. Maintaining our independence as we provide this service to the taxpayers of Oklahoma
is of utmost importance.
We wish to take this opportunity to express our appreciation for the assistance and cooperation extended to
our office during our engagement.
Sincerely,
GARY A. JONES, CPA, CFE
OKLAHOMA STATE AUDITOR & INSPECTOR
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTORY SECTION (Unaudited)
Statistical Information .................................................................................................................................. iii
County Officials ........................................................................................................................................... iv
Ad Valorem Tax Distribution ....................................................................................................................... v
Assessed Value of Property Trend Analysis ................................................................................................ vi
County General Fund Analysis .................................................................................................................. vii
County Highway Fund Analysis ............................................................................................................... viii
FINANCIAL SECTION
Report of State Auditor and Inspector .......................................................................................................... 1
Financial Statement:
Statement of Receipts, Disbursements, and Changes in Cash Balances—Regulatory Basis
(with Combining Information)—Major Funds ....................................................................................... 4
Notes to the Financial Statement ............................................................................................................ 5
OTHER SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
Comparative Schedule of Receipts, Expenditures, and Changes in
Cash Balances—Budget and Actual—Budgetary Basis—County General Fund ................................ 11
Comparative Schedule of Receipts, Expenditures, and Changes in
Cash Balances—Budget and Actual—Budgetary Basis—County Health Department Fund .............. 12
Combining Statement of Receipts, Disbursements, and Changes in
Cash Balances—Regulatory Basis—Remaining Aggregate Funds ..................................................... 13
Notes to Other Supplementary Information ......................................................................................... 14
i
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
INTERNAL CONTROL AND COMPLIANCE SECTION
Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting and on Compliance and Other Matters
Based on an Audit of Financial Statements Performed in Accordance With
Government Auditing Standards ................................................................................................................. 16
Schedule of Findings and Responses .......................................................................................................... 18
ii
INTRODUCTORY SECTION
UNAUDITED INFORMATION ON PAGES iii - viii
PRESENTED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
STATISTICAL INFORMATION
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
The extreme northeastern county of Oklahoma, bordering Kansas and Missouri, is named for the Ottawa
Indians. But Ottawa comes from the Algonquian term adawe, meaning to “buy and sell.” This county has
been the home to members of a greater number of Indian tribes than any other county in the United States.
With 71 percent of the total land area in farms, as much as 60 percent of the county’s agricultural income
is from livestock and dairy products, and the rest from such crops as wheat, corn, grain, sorghums, soybeans,
and grass. The early existence of a vast lead and zinc field is evident from huge mountains of chat still
present in the northern part of the country.
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College is located at Miami, the county seat. Industries in the county include
clothing, furniture, boat, metal and leather manufacturing, mushroom cultivation, and concrete and block
production.
Two books, Pictorial Reflections of Ottawa County and History of Ottawa County, have been written about
the county. For additional information, contact the Ottawa County Historical Society or call the County
Clerk’s office at 918/542-3332.
County Seat – Miami Area – 484.73 Square Miles
County Population – 32,105
(2015 est.)
Farms – 1,020 Land in Farms – 193,251 Acres
Primary Source: Oklahoma Almanac 2015-2016
iii
OTTAWA COUNTY OFFICIALS
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
Board of County Commissioners
District 1 – John Clarke
District 2 – Gary Wyrick
District 3 – Russell Earls
County Assessor
Linda Kelly
County Clerk
Reba Sill
County Sheriff
Terry Durborow
County Treasurer
Kathy Bowling
Court Clerk
Cassie Key
District Attorney
Eddie Wyant
iv
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
AD VALOREM TAX DISTRIBUTION
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
Property taxes are calculated by applying a millage rate to the assessed valuation of property. Millage rates
are established by the Oklahoma Constitution. One mill equals one-thousandth of a dollar. For example,
if the assessed value of a property is $1,000.00 and the millage rate is 1.00, then the tax on that property is
$1.00. This chart shows the different entities of the County and their share of the various millages as
authorized by the Constitution.
School Dist. Avg.
80.62%
County Health
1.99%
EMS
County General 3.97%
13.26%
Multi-County Library
0.16%
County-Wide Millages School District Millages
Career
County General 10.24 Gen. Bldg. Skg. Tech Common Total
County Health 1.54 Turkey Ford D-10 36.89 5.27 2.98 11.26 4.10 60.50
County Sinking 0.13 Wyandotte I-1 36.46 5.21 6.37 11.26 4.10 63.40
County-Wide EMS 3.07 Quapaw I-14 35.78 5.11 - 11.26 4.10 56.25
Commerce I-18 35.56 5.08 - 11.26 4.10 56.00
Miami I-23 35.70 5.10 9.95 11.26 4.10 66.11
Afton I-26 36.08 5.15 - 11.26 4.10 56.59
Fairland I-31 36.04 5.15 12.30 11.26 4.10 68.85
Neosho Valley I-17 35.46 5.07 14.68 11.26 4.10 70.57
v
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
ASSESSED VALUE OF PROPERTY
TREND ANALYSIS
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
Estimated
Valuation Public Real Homestead Fair Market
Date Personal Service Estate Exemption Net Value Value
1/1/2014 $27,276,213 $16,912,145 $109,284,391 $8,020,107 $145,452,642 $1,214,490,192
1/1/2013 $24,822,824 $17,791,306 $104,622,120 $8,113,837 $139,122,413 $1,161,084,683
1/1/2012 $30,203,387 $18,449,042 $101,231,565 $7,972,403 $141,911,591 $1,170,091,887
1/1/2011 $24,950,481 $18,576,433 $97,483,267 $7,909,340 $133,100,841 $1,167,551,237
1/1/2010 $23,161,033 $16,477,423 $93,656,350 $7,976,382 $125,318,424 $1,099,284,421
Estimated
$1,240,000,000
Fair Market
$1,220,000,000 Value $1,214,490,192
$1,200,000,000
$1,180,000,000 $1,170,091,887
$1,167,551,237
$1,161,084,683
$1,160,000,000
$1,140,000,000
$1,120,000,000
$1,099,284,421
$1,100,000,000
$1,080,000,000
$1,060,000,000
$1,040,000,000
1/1/2010 1/1/2011 1/1/2012 1/1/2013 1/1/2014
vi
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
COUNTY GENERAL FUND ANALYSIS
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
County General Fund
The Oklahoma Constitution and the Oklahoma Statutes authorize counties to create a County General Fund,
which is the county’s primary source of operating revenue. The County General Fund is typically used for
county employees’ salaries plus many expenses for county maintenance and operation. It also provides
revenue for various budget accounts and accounts that support special services and programs. The Board
of County Commissioners must review and approve all expenditures made from the County General Fund.
The primary revenue source for the County General Fund is usually the county’s ad valorem tax collected
on real, personal (if applicable), and public service property. Smaller amounts of revenue can come from
other sources such as fees, sales tax, use tax, state transfer payments, in-lieu taxes, and reimbursements.
The chart below summarizes receipts and disbursements of the County’s General Fund for the last five
fiscal years.
$3,700,000
$3,600,000
$3,500,000
$3,400,000
$3,300,000
$3,200,000
$3,100,000
$3,000,000
$2,900,000
$2,800,000
$2,700,000
FYE 2011 FYE 2012 FYE 2013 FYE 2014 FYE 2015
Receipts Apportioned $3,283,375 $3,485,334 $3,477,961 $3,334,686 $3,589,576
Disbursements $3,227,157 $3,054,159 $3,369,931 $3,422,576 $3,506,740
vii
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
COUNTY HIGHWAY FUND ANALYSIS
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
County Highway Fund
The County receives major funding for roads and highways from a state imposed fuel tax. Taxes are
collected by the Oklahoma Tax Commission. Taxes are imposed on all gasoline, diesel, and special fuel
sales statewide. The County’s share is determined on formulas based on the County population, road miles,
and land area and is remitted to the County monthly. These funds are earmarked for roads and highways
only and are accounted for in the County Highway Fund. The chart below summarizes receipts and
disbursements of the County’s Highway Fund for the last five fiscal years.
$3,000,000
$2,500,000
$2,000,000
$1,500,000
$1,000,000
$500,000
$-
FYE 2011 FYE 2012 FYE 2013 FYE 2014 FYE 2015
Receipts Apportioned $2,674,961 $2,239,352 $2,529,140 $2,142,028 $2,485,254
Disbursements $2,737,200 $2,385,590 $2,402,599 $2,409,095 $2,094,696
viii
FINANCIAL SECTION
Independent Auditor’s Report
TO THE OFFICERS OF
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
Report on the Financial Statement
We have audited the combined total—all county funds on the accompanying regulatory basis Statement of
Receipts, Disbursements, and Changes in Cash Balances of Ottawa County, Oklahoma, as of and for the
year ended June 30, 2015, and the related notes to the financial statement, which collectively comprise the
County’s basic financial statement as listed in the table of contents.
Management’s Responsibility for the Financial Statement
Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of this financial statement in
accordance with the regulatory basis of accounting described in Note 1, and for determining that the
regulatory basis of accounting is an acceptable basis for the preparation of the financial statement in the
circumstances. Management is also responsible for the design, implementation, and maintenance of
internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free from
material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
Auditor’s Responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statement based on our audit. We conducted
our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America and the
standards applicable to financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards, issued by the
Comptroller General of the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statement is free from material misstatement.
An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the
financial statement. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment
of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statement, whether due to fraud or error. In making
those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair
presentation of the financial statement in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the
circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal
control. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness
of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statement.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our
audit opinion.
Basis for Adverse Opinion on U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
As described in Note 1 of the financial statement, the financial statement is prepared by Ottawa County
using accounting practices prescribed or permitted by Oklahoma state law, which is a basis of accounting
other than accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The effects on the
financial statements of the variances between the regulatory basis of accounting described in Note 1 and
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, although not reasonably
determinable, are presumed to be material.
Adverse Opinion on U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
In our opinion, because of the significance of the matter discussed in the “Basis for Adverse Opinion on
U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” paragraph, the financial statement referred to above does
not present fairly, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America, the financial position of Ottawa County as of June 30, 2015, or changes in its financial position
for the year then ended.
Opinion on Regulatory Basis of Accounting
In our opinion, the financial statement referred to above presents fairly, in all material respects, the
combined total of receipts, disbursements, and changes in cash balances for all county funds of Ottawa
County, for the year ended June 30, 2015, in accordance with the basis of accounting described in Note 1.
Other Matters
Other Information
Our audit was conducted for the purpose of forming an opinion on the combined total of all county funds
on the financial statement. The Other Supplementary Information, as listed in the table of contents, is
presented for purposes of additional analysis and is not a required part of the financial statement.
The Other Supplementary Information, as listed in the table of contents, is the responsibility of management
and was derived from and related directly to the underlying accounting and other records used to prepare
the financial statement. Such information has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audit
of the financial statement and certain additional procedures, including comparing and reconciling such
information directly to the underlying accounting and other records used to prepare the financial statement
or to the financial statement itself, and other additional procedures in accordance with auditing standards
generally accepted in the United States of America. In our opinion, the Other Supplementary Information,
as listed in the table of contents, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the combined total—
all county funds.
The information listed in the table of contents under Introductory Section has not been subjected to the
auditing procedures applied in the audit of the financial statement, and accordingly, we do not express an
opinion or provide any assurance on it.
Other Reporting Required by Government Auditing Standards
In accordance with Government Auditing Standards, we have also issued our report dated June 8, 2017, on
our consideration of Ottawa County’s internal control over financial reporting and on our tests of its
2
compliance with certain provisions of laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements and other matters.
The purpose of that report is to describe the scope of our testing of internal control over financial reporting
and compliance and the results of that testing, and not to provide an opinion on the internal control over
financial reporting or on compliance. That report is an integral part of an audit performed in accordance
with Government Auditing Standards and in considering Ottawa County’s internal control over financial
reporting and compliance.
GARY A. JONES, CPA, CFE
OKLAHOMA STATE AUDITOR & INSPECTOR
June 8, 2017
3
REGULATORY BASIS FINANCIAL STATEMENT
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS, DISBURSEMENTS, AND
CHANGES IN CASH BALANCES—REGULATORY BASIS
(WITH COMBINING INFORMATION)—MAJOR FUNDS
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
Beginning Ending
Cash Balances Receipts Transfers Transfers Cash Balances
July 1, 2014 Apportioned In Out Disbursements June 30, 2015
Combining Information:
Major Funds:
County General Fund $ 1,071,758 $ 3,589,576 $ - $ - $ 3,506,740 $ 1,154,594
County Sales Tax 1,888 - - - - 1,888
County Health 428,793 237,111 - - 186,289 479,615
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Highway 519,285 481,891 - - 1,001,176 -
Highway 1,011,576 2,485,254 - - 2,094,696 1,402,134
Highway 1/2 Cent Sales Tax 681,142 1,923,725 - - 752,487 1,852,380
Courthouse Building Authority Sales Tax 478,140 587,970 - - 563,649 502,461
MIDA Rawlins Sinking 30,230 17,375 - - 17,850 29,755
Firefighters Sales Tax 260,937 235,466 - - 165,977 330,426
Board of Prisoners 171,263 190,971 - - 165,895 196,339
County Bridge and Road Improvement Fund 421,505 12,023 - - 57,093 376,435
Remaining Aggregate Funds 516,321 719,307 63 63 683,386 552,242
Combined Total - All County Funds $ 5,592,838 $ 10,480,669 $ 63 $ 63 $ 9,195,238 $ 6,878,269
The notes to the financial statement are an integral part of this statement.
4
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
A. Reporting Entity
Ottawa County is a subdivision of the State of Oklahoma created by the Oklahoma Constitution
and regulated by Oklahoma Statutes.
The accompanying financial statement presents the receipts, disbursements, and changes in cash
balances of the total of all funds under the control of the primary government. The general fund is
the county’s general operating fund, accounting for all financial resources except those required to
be accounted for in another fund, where its use is restricted for a specified purpose. Other funds
established by statute and under the control of the primary government are also presented.
The County Treasurer collects and remits material amounts of intergovernmental revenues and ad
valorem tax revenue for other budgetary entities, including emergency medical districts, school
districts, and cities and towns. The cash receipts and disbursements attributable to those other
entities do not appear in funds on the County’s financial statement; those funds play no part in the
County’s operations. Any trust or agency funds maintained by the County are not included in this
presentation.
B. Fund Accounting
The County uses funds to report on receipts, disbursements, and changes in cash balances. Fund
accounting is designed to demonstrate legal compliance and to aid financial management by
segregating transactions related to certain government functions or activities.
Following are descriptions of the county funds included as combining information within the
financial statement:
County General Fund – accounts for the general operations of the government with revenues from
ad valorem taxes, officer's fees, sales tax, interest earnings, and miscellaneous collections of the
County.
County Sales Tax – accounts for revenues from interest earnings. This is the residual balance of
sales tax collected for the construction of the County jail. Disbursements are for capital
improvements to the jail.
County Health – accounts for ad valorem taxes, miscellaneous fees charged by the health
department, and state and federal funds. Disbursements are from the operation of the county health
department.
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Highway – accounts for money received for construction and
improvement of roads and bridges on Indian land within the County.
5
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
Highway – account for revenues from state imposed fuel taxes. Disbursements are for the
maintenance and construction of county roads and bridges.
Highway ½ Cent Sales Tax – accounts for the collections of sales tax revenue and the disbursement
of funds are for the construction of county roads and bridges as restricted by the sales tax ballot.
Courthouse Building Authority Sales Tax – accounts for the collections of sales tax revenue and
the disbursement of funds are for the County Courthouse facilities and to pay the principal and
interest on indebtedness on behalf of the County by the Ottawa County Governmental Building
Authority as restricted by the sales tax ballot.
MIDA Rawlins Sinking – accounts for revenues from ad valorem taxes and interest earnings.
Disbursements are for the payment of principal and interest on bonds and judgments against the
County.
Firefighters Sales Tax – accounts for the collections of sales tax revenue and disbursement of funds
are for general operation, maintenance, training, and construction of new fire department buildings
or improvements to existing fire department buildings as restricted by the sales tax ballot.
Board of Prisoners – accounts for revenues from fees charged for boarding prisoners of non-county
entities in the county jail. Disbursements are for feeding and housing inmates of the county jail as
restricted by statute.
County Bridge and Road Improvement Fund – accounts for state money received for construction
and/or improvement of bridges within the County.
C. Basis of Accounting
The financial statement is prepared on a basis of accounting wherein amounts are recognized when
received or disbursed. This basis of accounting differs from accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America, which require revenues to be recognized when they
become available and measurable or when they are earned, and expenditures or expenses to be
recognized when the related liabilities are incurred. This regulatory basis financial presentation is
not a comprehensive measure of economic condition or changes therein.
Title 19 O.S. § 171 specifies the format and presentation for Oklahoma counties to present their
financial statement in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America (U.S. GAAP) or on a regulatory basis. The County has elected to present their
financial statement on a regulatory basis in conformity with Title 19 O.S. § 171. County
governments (primary only) are required to present their financial statements on a fund basis format
with, at a minimum, the general fund and all other county funds, which represent ten percent or
greater of total county revenue. All other funds included in the audit shall be presented in the
aggregate in a combining statement.
6
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
D. Budget
Under current Oklahoma Statutes, a general fund and a county health department fund are the only
funds required to adopt a formal budget. On or before the first Monday in July of each year, each
officer or department head submits an estimate of needs to the governing body. The budget is
approved for the respective fund by office, or department and object. The County Board of
Commissioners may approve changes of appropriations within the fund by office or department
and object. To increase or decrease the budget by fund requires approval by the County Excise
Board.
E. Cash and Investments
For the purposes of financial reporting, “Ending Cash Balances, June 30” includes cash and cash
equivalents and investments as allowed by statutes. The County pools the cash of its various funds
in maintaining its bank accounts. However, cash applicable to a particular fund is readily
identifiable on the County’s books. The balance in the pooled cash accounts is available to meet
current operating requirements.
State statutes require financial institutions with which the County maintains funds to deposit
collateral securities to secure the County’s deposits. The amount of collateral securities to be
pledged is established by the County Treasurer; this amount must be at least the amount of the
deposit to be secured, less the amount insured (by, for example, the FDIC).
The County Treasurer has been authorized by the County’s governing board to make investments.
Allowable investments are outlined in statutes 62 O.S. § 348.1 and § 348.3.
All investments must be backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government, the
Oklahoma State Government, fully collateralized, or fully insured. All investments as classified by
state statute are nonnegotiable certificates of deposit. Nonnegotiable certificates of deposit are not
subject to interest rate risk or credit risk.
2. Ad Valorem Tax
The County's property tax is levied each October 1 on the assessed value listed as of January 1 of
the same year for all real and personal property located in the County, except certain exempt
property. Assessed values are established by the County Assessor within the prescribed guidelines
established by the Oklahoma Tax Commission and the State Equalization Board. Title 68 O.S. §
2820.A. states, ". . . Each assessor shall thereafter maintain an active and systematic program of
visual inspection on a continuous basis and shall establish an inspection schedule which will result
in the individual visual inspection of all taxable property within the county at least once each four
(4) years."
7
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
Taxes are due on November 1 following the levy date, although they may be paid in two equal
installments. If the first half is paid prior to January 1, the second half is not delinquent until April
1. Unpaid real property taxes become a lien upon said property on October 1 of each year.
Unpaid delinquent personal property taxes are published usually in May. If the taxes are not paid
within 30 days from publication, they shall be placed on the personal tax lien docket.
3. Other Information
A. Pension Plan
Plan Description. The County contributes to the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement Plan (the
Plan), a cost-sharing, multiple-employer defined benefit pension plan administered by the
Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS). Benefit provisions are established and
amended by the Oklahoma Legislature. The Plan provides retirement, disability, and death benefits
to Plan members and beneficiaries. Title 74, Sections 901 through 943, as amended, establishes
the provisions of the Plan. OPERS issues a publicly available financial report that includes
financial statements and supplementary information. That report may be obtained by writing
OPERS, P.O. Box 53007, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105 or by calling 1-800-733-9008.
Funding Policy. The contribution rates for each member category are established by the Oklahoma
Legislature and are based on an actuarial calculation which is performed to determine the adequacy
of contribution rates.
B. Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB)
In addition to the pension benefits described in the Pension Plan note, OPERS provides post-
retirement health care benefits of up to $105 each for retirees who are members of an eligible group
plan. These benefits are funded on a pay-as-you-go basis as part of the overall retirement benefit.
OPEB expenditure and participant information is available for the state as a whole; however,
information specific to the County is not available nor can it be reasonably estimated.
C. Contingent Liabilities
Amounts received or receivable from grantor agencies are subject to audit and adjustment by
grantor agencies, primarily the federal government. Any disallowed claims, including amounts
already collected, may constitute a liability of the applicable fund. The amount, if any, of
expenditures which may be disallowed by the grantor cannot be determined at this time; although,
the County expects such amounts, if any, to be immaterial.
As of the end of the fiscal year, there were no claims or judgments that would have a material
adverse effect on the financial condition of the County; however, the outcome of any lawsuit would
not be determinable.
8
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
D. Long Term Obligations
1. General Obligation Bonds
The government issues general obligation bonds to provide funds for the acquisition and
construction of major capital facilities. Debt service on the bonds will be paid from ad
valorem taxes levied and assessed on behalf of the issuer and deposited to the Sinking
Fund.
County General Obligation Limited Tax Bonds of 1987 – bonds in the amount of $400,000
were issued July 1, 1987, to provide funds for the purpose of securing and developing
industry within Ottawa County.
General obligation bonds are direct obligations and pledge the full faith and credit of the
government. These bonds are required to be fully paid within 25 years from the date of
issue. General obligation bonds currently outstanding are as follows:
Original
Purpose Interest Rate
Amount
Ottawa County General Obligation
6.00% $400,000
Bonds of 1987
Amount
Beginning Ending Due within
Balance Additions Reductions Balance one year
$55,000 $-0- $15,000 $40,000 $15,000
During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015, principal payments of $15,000 and interest
payments of $2,850 were made on this issue.
Annual debt service requirements to maturity for general obligation bonds, including
interest of 6.00%, are as follows:
Fiscal Year Ending
June 30, Principal Interest Total
2016 $15,000 $2,400 $17,400
2017 15,000 1,500 16,500
2018 10,000 600 10,600
Total $40,000 $4,500 $44,500
9
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
E. Sales Tax
On September 15, 1992, Ottawa County voters approved a permanent one-half cent sales tax. The
purpose of the tax is the construction, maintenance, and operation of a modern jail facility and
operation of the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department. These funds are accounted for in the County
General Fund.
On November 3, 1998, Ottawa County voters approved a permanent one-half cent sales tax
effective January 1, 1999, for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the county road and
bridge system of Ottawa County, Oklahoma. These funds are accounted for in the Highway ½ Cent
Sales Tax fund.
On November 18, 2003, Ottawa County voters approved a one-tenth of one percent (1/10 of 1%)
county sales tax in perpetuity and effective on or after April 1, 2004, which is to be used to fund
the fire departments in Ottawa County, for purposes including, but not limited to equipment,
general operations, maintenance, training and the construction of new fire department buildings or
improvements to existing fire department buildings. These funds are accounted for in the
Firefighter Sales Tax fund.
On December 13, 2005, Ottawa County voters approved a one-fourth of one percent (1/4 of 1%)
county sales tax for the sole purpose to pay for acquiring, constructing, equipping, repairing,
renovating, operating, and maintaining county courthouse facilities for Ottawa County, Oklahoma;
and to pay the principal and interest on indebtedness incurred on behalf of the County by the Ottawa
County Governmental Building Authority for such purposes. The effective date of this tax is April
1, 2006, and shall expire and cease to be collected when sufficient funds have been collected from
said levy to retire such indebtedness or on April 1, 2036, whichever shall occur earlier. These funds
are accounted for in the Courthouse Building Authority Sales Tax fund.
F. Residual Transfer
A residual transfer in the amount of $63 was made from the Sheriff DFCF fund to Sheriff Service
Fee fund to close out the Sheriff DFCF fund.
10
OTHER SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
OOTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
COMPARATIVE SCHEDULE OF RECEIPTS, EXPENDITURES, AND
CHANGES IN CASH BALANCES—BUDGET AND ACTUAL—BUDGETARY BASIS—
GENERAL FUND
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
General Fund
Budget Actual Variance
Beginning Cash Balances $ 1,071,759 $ 1,071,758 $ (1)
Less: Prior Year Outstanding Warrants (133,701) (133,701) -
Less: Prior Year Encumbrances (47,945) (46,623) 1,322
Beginning Cash Balances, Budgetary Basis 890,113 891,434 1,321
Receipts:
Ad Valorem Taxes 1,623,776 1,431,044 (192,732)
Charges for Services 68,226 316,262 248,036
Intergovernmental Revenues 535,763 638,951 103,188
Sales Tax 1,014,807 1,175,084 160,277
Miscellaneous Revenues 6,784 28,235 21,451
Total Receipts, Budgetary Basis 3,249,356 3,589,576 340,220
Expenditures:
District Attorney 4,000 4,000 -
County Sheriff 1,588,722 1,585,609 3,113
County Treasurer 148,209 147,796 413
County Commissioner 78,782 77,026 1,756
County Commissioner O.S.U. Extensions 71,673 71,046 627
County Clerk 295,182 295,083 99
Court Clerk 451,414 449,246 2,168
County Assessor 70,400 70,359 41
Revaluation of Real Property 220,380 220,379 1
General Government 955,386 325,284 630,102
Excise-Equalization Board 2,438 2,293 145
County Election Expense 134,926 133,576 1,350
Emergency Management 77,247 73,830 3,417
County Audit Budget Account 28,810 956 27,854
County Cemetery Account 400 400 -
Free Fair Budget Account 9,500 8,928 572
Provision for Interest on Warrants 2,000 - 2,000
Total Expenditures, Budgetary Basis 4,139,469 3,465,811 673,658
Excess of Receipts and Beginning Cash
Balances Over Expenditures, Budgetary Basis $ - 1,015,199 $ 1,015,199
Reconciliation to Statement of Receipts,
Disbursements, and Changes in Cash Balances
Add: Cancelled Warrants 165
Add: Current Year Outstanding Warrants 128,188
Add: Current Year Encumbrances 11,042
Ending Cash Balance $ 1,154,594
11
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
COMPARATIVE SCHEDULE OF RECEIPTS, EXPENDITURES, AND
CHANGES IN CASH BALANCES—BUDGET AND ACTUAL—BUDGETARY BASIS—
COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT FUND
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
County Health Department Fund
Budget Actual Variance
Beginning Cash Balances $ 428,793 $ 428,793 $ -
Less: Prior Year Outstanding Warrants (6,713) (6,713) -
Less: Prior Year Encumbrances (5,172) (4,437) 735
Beginning Cash Balances, Budgetary Basis 416,908 417,643 735
Receipts:
Ad Valorem Taxes 217,485 215,189 (2,296)
Charges for Service - 15,973 15,973
Intergovernmental Revenues - 5,923 5,923
Miscellaneous revenues - 26 26
Total Receipts, Budgetary Basis 217,485 237,111 19,626
Expenditures:
Health and Welfare 634,393 201,118 433,275
Total Expenditures, Budgetary Basis 634,393 201,118 433,275
Excess of Receipts and Beginning Cash
Balances Over Expenditures,
Budgetary Basis $ - 453,636 $ 453,636
Reconciliation to Statement of Receipts,
Disbursements, and Changes in Cash Balances
Add: Current Year Encumbrances 4,684
Add: Current Year Outstanding Warrants 21,295
Ending Cash Balance $ 479,615
12
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
COMBINING STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS, DISBURSEMENTS, AND
CHANGES IN CASH BALANCES—REGULATORY BASIS—
REMAINING AGGREGATE FUNDS
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
Beginning Ending
Cash Balances Receipts Transfer Transfer Cash Balances
July 1, 2014 Apportioned In Out Disbursements June 30, 2015
Remaining Aggregate Funds:
Resale $ 193,784 $ 167,112 $ - $ - $ 161,570 $ 199,326
Sheriff Service Fee 190,196 406,584 63 - 393,574 203,269
Sheriff Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) 161 - - - 161 -
Sheriff DFCF 63 - - 63 - -
County Clerk Lien Fee 21,024 10,844 - - 18,267 13,601
County Treasurer Mortgage Certification Fee 2,433 4,145 - - 5,431 1,147
County Clerk Records Preservation 10,263 23,238 - - 16,697 16,804
Sheriff Commissary 50,166 64,962 - - 72,436 42,692
Sheriff Bond Fee 25,063 22,609 - - 14,502 33,170
Child Abuse Prevention 7,285 17 - - - 7,302
County Assessor Revolving 15,317 1,436 - - 740 16,013
Insurance Recovery Cash Fund 8 - - - 8 -
Littering Reward Fund 558 100 - - - 658
Paradise Point - 10 - - - 10
Local Emergency Planning Committee - 1,000 - - - 1,000
Emergency Management Performance Grant - 15,000 - - - 15,000
Firefighters Miami - 2,225 - - - 2,225
Tulsa Teachers Credit Union - 25 - - - 25
Combined Total - Remaining Aggregate Funds $ 516,321 $ 719,307 $ 63 $ 63 $ 683,386 $ 552,242
13
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
NOTE TO FINANCIAL STATEMENT
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
1. Budgetary Schedules
The Comparative Schedules of Receipts, Expenditures, and Changes in Cash Balances—Budget
and Actual—Budgetary Basis for the General Fund and the County Health Department Fund
present comparisons of the legally adopted budget with actual data. The "actual" data, as presented
in the comparison of budget and actual, will differ from the data as presented in the Combined
Statement of Receipts, Disbursements, and Changes in Cash Balances with Combining Information
because of adopting certain aspects of the budgetary basis of accounting and the adjusting of
encumbrances and outstanding warrants to their related budget year.
Encumbrance accounting, under which purchase orders, contracts, and other commitments for the
expenditure of monies are recorded in order to reserve that portion of the applicable appropriation,
is employed as an extension of formal budgetary integration in these funds. At the end of the year
unencumbered appropriations lapse.
2. Remaining County Funds
Remaining aggregate funds as presented on the financial statement are as follows:
Resale – accounts for the collection of interest and penalties on delinquent taxes and disbursement
of funds as restricted by state statute.
Sheriff Service Fee – accounts for revenues from fees charged for serving summons and notices.
Disbursements are for any lawful expense of the Sheriff’s office.
Sheriff Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) – accounts for revenues from donations for drug
education. Disbursements are for payroll of officers who go into schools and teach Drug Abuse
Resistance Education.
Sheriff DFCF – accounts for revenues from monies seized and forfeited to the Sheriff’s office.
Disbursements are for the maintenance and operation of the Sheriff’s Drug Task Force.
County Clerk Lien Fee – accounts for revenues from a fee charged by the County Clerk for filing
liens. Disbursements are for any lawful expense of the County Clerk’s office.
County Treasurer Mortgage Certification Fee – accounts for revenues from a fee for certifying
mortgages. Disbursements are for any lawful expense of the County Treasurer’s office.
County Clerk Records Preservation – accounts for revenues from a fee charged by the County Clerk
for recording instruments. Disbursements are for the maintenance and preservation of public
records.
14
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
NOTE TO FINANCIAL STATEMENT
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
Sheriff Commissary – accounts for revenues from profits of commissary sales in the County jail.
Disbursements are for jail improvements.
Sheriff Bond Fee – accounts for revenues from a fee charged to all persons who post a surety bond
and are subsequently incarcerated. Disbursements are for any legal expense of the jail.
Child Abuse Prevention – accounts for revenues from jury donations and interest earnings.
Disbursements are for child abuse prevention.
County Assessor Revolving – accounts for the collection of fees for copies and disbursements as
restricted by state statute.
Insurance Recovery Cash Fund – accounts for revenues from insurance claims filed by the County.
Disbursements are for the replacement of items damaged in the courthouse.
Littering Reward Fund – accounts for revenues from court clerk fees. Disbursements are for
rewards paid to individuals providing information that leads to conviction of littering violators.
Paradise Point – accounts for donations restricted for use of the Paradise Point Fire Department.
Local Emergency Planning Committee – accounts for the receipt of funds from state and local
governments and disbursed as restricted by the grant agreement.
Emergency Management Performance Grant – accounts for grant money received from the
Department of Homeland Security and disbursed as restricted by the grant agreement.
Firefighters Miami – accounts for donations from the Ottawa County Miami Firefighters restricted
for the use of Miami Fire Department.
Tulsa Teachers Credit Union – accounts for county funds on deposit with the Tulsa Teachers Credit
Union (TTCU) in order for the Sheriff to obtain a TCCU credit card to use for travel purposes.
15
INTERNAL CONTROL AND COMPLIANCE SECTION
17
Independent Auditor’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting and on Compliance
and Other Matters Based on an Audit of Financial Statements Performed in Accordance With
Government Auditing Standards
TO THE OFFICERS OF
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
We have audited, in accordance with the auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of
America and the standards applicable to financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards
issued by the Comptroller General of the United States, the combined total—all funds of the accompanying
Combined Statement of Receipts, Disbursements, and Changes in Cash Balances of Ottawa County,
Oklahoma, as of and for the year ended June 30, 2015, and the related notes to the financial statement,
which collectively comprises Ottawa County’s basic financial statement, prepared using accounting
practices prescribed or permitted by Oklahoma state law, and have issued our report thereon dated June 8,
2017.
Our report included an adverse opinion on the financial statement because the statement is prepared using
accounting practices prescribed or permitted by Oklahoma state law, which is a basis of accounting other
than accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. However, our report also
included our opinion that the financial statement does present fairly, in all material respects, the receipts,
disbursements, and changes in cash balances – regulatory basis of the County for the year ended June 30,
2015, on the basis of accounting prescribed by Oklahoma state law, described in Note 1.
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
In planning and performing our audit of the financial statement, we considered Ottawa County’s internal
control over financial reporting (internal control) to determine the audit procedures that are appropriate in
the circumstances for the purpose of expressing our opinions on the financial statement, but not for the
purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of Ottawa County’s internal control. Accordingly,
we do not express an opinion on the effectiveness of Ottawa County’s internal control.
Our consideration of internal control was for the limited purpose described in the preceding paragraph and
was not designed to identify all deficiencies in internal control that might be material weaknesses or
significant deficiencies and therefore, material weaknesses or significant deficiencies may exist that were
not identified. However, as described in the accompanying schedule of findings and questioned costs, we
identified certain deficiencies in internal control that we consider to be material weaknesses and significant
deficiencies.
A deficiency in internal control exists when the design or operation of a control does not allow management
or employees, in the normal course of performing their assigned functions, to prevent, or detect and correct,
misstatements on a timely basis. A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in
internal control such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the entity’s
financial statements will not be prevented, or detected and corrected on a timely basis. We consider the
deficiencies described in the accompanying schedule of findings to be material weaknesses: 2015-1, 2015-
2, and 2015-3.
A significant deficiency is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control that is less severe
than a material weakness, yet important enough to merit attention by those charged with governance. We
consider the deficiencies described in the accompanying schedule of findings to be significant deficiencies:
2015-4, 2015-5, and 2015-6.
Compliance and Other Matters
As part of obtaining reasonable assurance about whether Ottawa County’s financial statement is free from
material misstatement, we performed tests of its compliance with certain provisions of laws, regulations,
contracts, and grant agreements, noncompliance with which could have a direct and material effect on the
determination of financial statement amounts. However, providing an opinion on compliance with those
provisions was not an objective of our audit, and accordingly, we do not express such an opinion. The
results of our tests disclosed no instances of noncompliance or other matters that are required to be reported
under Government Auditing Standards.
We noted certain matters regarding statutory compliance that we reported to the management of Ottawa
County, which are included in Section 2 of the schedule of findings and responses contained in this report.
Ottawa County’s Responses to Findings
Ottawa County’s responses to the findings identified in our audit are described in the accompanying
schedule of findings and responses. Ottawa County’s responses were not subjected to the auditing
procedures applied in the audit of the financial statement and, accordingly, we express no opinion on it the
responses.
Purpose of this Report
The purpose of this report is solely to describe the scope of our testing of internal control and compliance
and the result of that testing, and not to provide an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal
control or on compliance. This report is an integral part of an audit performed in accordance with
Government Auditing Standards in considering the entity’s internal control and compliance. Accordingly,
this communication is not suitable for any other purpose.
This report is also a public document pursuant to the Oklahoma Open Records Act (51 O.S. § 24A.1 et
seq.), and shall be open to any person for inspection and copying.
GARY A. JONES, CPA, CFE
OKLAHOMA STATE AUDITOR & INSPECTOR
June 8, 2017
17
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND RESPONSES
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
SECTION 1—Findings related to the Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting and on
Compliance and Other Matters Based on an Audit of Financial Statements Performed in Accordance
With Government Auditing Standards
Finding 2015-1- Inadequate County-Wide Controls (Repeat Finding)
Condition: County-wide controls regarding risk assessment and monitoring have not been designed.
Cause of Condition: Policies and procedures have not been designed and implemented to address risk
assessment and monitoring of the County. The County was not fully aware of the benefits gained by the
implementation of procedures regarding risk assessment and monitoring as it relates to the strengthening
of its internal control structure.
Effect of Condition: Without an adequate system of county-wide controls, there is greater risk of a
breakdown in control activities which could result in unrecorded transactions, undetected errors, or
misappropriation of funds.
Recommendation: The Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector’s office (OSAI) recommends the County
design and implement policies and procedures to identify and address risks. These procedures should be
written policies and procedures and could be included in the County’s Policies and Procedures Handbook.
Management Response:
Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners: The elected officials of Ottawa County will work to
implement a policy that would establish controls mitigating the internal and external risks that the county
faces. These controls will include each office writing and establishing a disaster recovery plan, and ensuring
all key accounting duties, such as payroll, are properly segregated. Risks will be discussed throughout the
year, and as other risks arise, the County will work to implement controls to mitigate those risks. The
County will review auditor recommendations and will take every possible step to ensure the County is
adequately addressing risk and monitoring.
Criteria: Internal control is an integral component of an organization’s management that provides
reasonable assurance that the objectives of effectiveness and efficiency of operations, reliability of financial
reporting and compliance with laws and regulations are being met. Internal control comprises the plans,
methods, and procedures used to meet missions, goals, and objectives. Internal control also serves as the
first line of defense in safeguarding assets and preventing and detecting errors and fraud. County
management is responsible for designing a county-wide internal control system comprised of control
environment; risk assessment; information and communication; and monitoring for the achievement of
these goals.
Risk Assessment is a component of internal control which should provide for an assessment of the risks the
County faces from both internal and external sources. Once risks have been identified, they should be
analyzed for their possible effect. Management then has to formulate an approach for risk management and
18
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND RESPONSES
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
decide upon the internal control activities required to mitigate those risks and achieve the internal control
objectives.
Monitoring is a component of internal control which should assess the quality of performance over time
and ensure that the findings of audits and other reviews are promptly resolved. Ongoing monitoring occurs
during normal operations and includes regular management and supervisory activities, comparisons,
reconciliations, and other actions people take in performing their duties. It includes ensuring that
management know their responsibilities for internal control and the need to make control monitoring part
of their regular operating process.
Finding 2015-2- Inadequate Internal Controls Over the Payroll Process (Repeat Finding)
Condition: Upon inquiry and observation of the County’s payroll process, we noted the following
weaknesses:
• Lack of segregation of duties over the payroll process – One person enrolls all new employees,
removes terminated employees, updates employees’ master files, maintains personnel files,
prepares payroll, prints payroll warrants, and is the bank contact for direct deposit errors.
Cause of Condition Policies and procedures have not been designed and implemented with regard to
segregation of duties and/or compensating internal controls over the payroll process.
Effect of Condition: This condition could result in unrecorded transactions, misstated financial reports,
undetected errors, or misappropriation of funds.
Recommendation: OSAI recommends management be aware of these conditions and determine if duties
can be properly segregated. In the event that segregation of duties is not possible due to limited personnel,
OSAI recommends implementing compensating controls to mitigate the risks involved with a concentration
of duties. Compensating controls would include separating key processes and/or critical functions of the
office, and having management review and approve accounting functions.
Management Response:
County Clerk: I was not in office during the period under audit. However, we have segregated the duties
within payroll since I was elected. We now have one employee that is in charge of enrollment, another
employee that updates employees’ files, and still another employee that prepares and prints payroll
warrants. Sometimes, preparing and printing warrants is done by two different employees as well.
Criteria: Accountability and stewardship are overall goals of management in the accounting of funds.
Internal controls should be designed to analyze and check accuracy, completeness, and authorization of
payroll calculations and/or transactions. To help ensure a proper accounting of funds, the duties of
processing, authorizing, and payroll distribution should be segregated.
19
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND RESPONSES
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
Finding 2013-3 - Inadequate Segregation of Duties Over the Collection Process Process in the County
Treasurer’s Office (Repeat Finding)
Condition: Upon inquiry and observation of the County’s collection process, we noted that one person can
take in collections, issue receipts, perform drawer close out and reconciliation, and prepare deposit with
little or no review.
Cause of Condition: Policies and procedures have not been designed and implemented with regard to
segregation of duties and/or compensating internal controls over the collection process.
Effect of Condition: This condition could result in unrecorded transactions, misstated financial reports,
undetected errors, or misappropriation of funds.
Recommendation: OSAI recommends management be aware of these conditions and determine if duties
can be properly segregated. In the event that segregation of duties is not possible due to limited personnel,
OSAI recommends implementing compensating controls to mitigate the risks involved with a concentration
of duties. Compensating controls would include separating key processes and/or critical functions of the
office, and having management review and approve accounting functions.
Management Response:
County Treasurer: After closing out each day, each cashier’s report is passed to another cashier and
checked for accuracy. Starting in fiscal year 2017, whoever is doing the final closeout and making the
deposit for the bank, their drawer and report is checked by another cashier.
Criteria: Accountability and stewardship are overall goals of management in the accounting of funds. An
important aspect of internal controls is the safeguarding of assets. Internal controls over safeguarding of
assets constitute a process, affected by an entity’s governing body, management, and other personnel,
designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized
transactions, and safeguarding assets from misappropriation. To help ensure a proper accounting of funds,
the duties of receiving, receipting, recording, depositing cash and checks, and reconciliations should be
segregated.
Finding 2015-4 - Inadequate Internal Controls Over 911 Fee Collections (Repeat Finding)
Condition: On November 25, 1991, the Ottawa County E-911 Governing Authority (the Authority) was
created to provide for the collection of, monitoring and safeguarding of public funds collected to pay for
the installation and maintenance of the E-911 equipment and the installation and maintenance of the line
and equipment for Enhanced 911 service for Ottawa County. Furthermore, Title 63 O.S. § 2843.2L states
“within thirty (30) days of receipt, the Oklahoma Tax Commission shall pay all remitted prepaid wireless
nine-one-one fees to the governing bodies that the Statewide Nine-One-One Advisory Board has certified
as eligible to receive funds. Such certification shall be provided to the Oklahoma Tax Commission annually
before July 1. Eligible governing bodies shall be those governing bodies that have imposed, and are
20
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND RESPONSES
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
collecting, the nine-one-one emergency wireless telephone fee as authorized in subsection A of Section
2843.1 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes.”
In fiscal year 2015, the Ottawa County Board of County Commissioners was the certified eligible governing
body to receive the E-911 funds. The Oklahoma Tax Commission (OTC) remitted $31,687.70 to the Ottawa
County Treasurer; however, the County Treasurer did not receive these funds as OTC had been notified to
remit the funds to “the Authority’s” bank account named “Ottawa County Treasurer, E-911 Trust, ATTN:
Reba Sill” (trust account).
OSAI obtained the trust account bank statements from the Authority and confirmed $31,687.70 was
deposited in to the trust account.
Cause of Condition: Policies and procedures have not been designed and implemented to ensure County
funds are remitted to the County and deposited in a bank account under the direct supervision of the County
Treasurer.
Effect of Condition: County funds were remitted to and deposited in the Authority’s bank without
knowledge of the Board of County Commissioners or the County Treasurer.
Recommendation: OSAI recommends the County establish policies and procedures to ensure all County
funds are remitted to and deposited by the County. OSAI also recommends the County provide OTC with
the correct bank account information so that E-911 monies will be remitted directly to the County and not
the Authority.
Management Response:
Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners: A contract will be created between Ottawa County
and the E-911 Authority for fiscal year 2017-2018 that will allow deposits to channel through the Ottawa
County Treasurer’s office. The Ottawa County Clerk's office will then appropriate the funds, create a
purchase order and then issue a warrant for the funds that were deposited during that month.
Criteria: Accountability and stewardship are overall goals of management in the accounting of funds.
Internal controls should be designed to analyze and check accuracy, completeness, and authorization of
transactions.
Title 63 O.S. § 2843.2L states “within thirty (30) days of receipt, the Oklahoma Tax Commission
shall pay all remitted prepaid wireless nine-one-one fees to the governing bodies that the
Statewide Nine-One-One Advisory Board has certified as eligible to receive funds. Such
certification shall be provided to the Oklahoma Tax Commission annually before July 1.
Eligible governing bodies shall be those governing bodies that have imposed, and are
collecting, the nine-one-one emergency wireless telephone fee as authorized in subsection
A of Section 2843.1 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes.”
21
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND RESPONSES
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
Finding 2015-5 - Violation of Oklahoma Open Records Act (Repeat Finding)
Condition: The payroll claims and payroll affidavits for one hundred and twenty-three (123) of the payroll
expenditures could not be located in the County Clerk’s files as follows:
• Twenty-eight (28) for fiscal year 2013,
• Forty (40) for fiscal year 2014, and
• Fifty-five (55) for fiscal year 2015.
Upon engaging with Ottawa County, management signed the engagement letter which stated “Management
is … responsible for making all financial records and related information available to us and for ensuring
that management is reliable and financial information is reliable and properly recorded.” All County
officials were considered management; however, the County Clerk’s (Clerk) first deputy signed the letter
in lieu of the Clerk as the Clerk did not attend the engagement meeting. OSAI also learned that during
fiscal year 2015 and 2016, the Clerk primarily worked from home and would not be seeking re-election.
Around June 13th, 2016, OSAI requested a sample of fiscal year 2013, 2014, and 2015 expenditures to
examine. Of the two hundred and one (201) expenditures selected to test, one hundred and twenty-four
(124) were payroll expenditures. When OSAI attempted to obtain the support documentation for the payroll
expenditures, the payroll claims and payroll affidavits for one hundred and twenty-three (123) of the payroll
expenditures could not be located in the County Clerk’s files.
When the Clerk’s deputies were unable to locate the documentation, the first deputy stated she would ask
the Clerk (who was working from home) if she knew where the documentation was. OSAI was not notified
whether or not the Clerk knew where the documentation was.
On June 30th, 2016, the day after the County primary elections, an OSAI auditor encountered the Clerk
returning documents to the courthouse. Upon inquiry, the auditor learned that the Clerk was returning
county documents from her home, including the payroll claims and affidavits that were missing. The Clerk
stated that she had taken this documentation home because she wanted to make them look “nice and neat”
for the auditors.
Cause of Condition: Policies and procedures have not been designed and implemented to ensure all County
records are adequately safeguarded and are readily available within the Ottawa county courthouse.
Effect of Condition: This condition resulted in County records not being readily available for auditing
purposes and the County Clerk possibly violating the Oklahoma Open Records Act.
Recommendation: OSAI recommends management implement policies and procedures designed to keep
and maintain complete records of all receipts and expenditures of any public funds, to include purchase
orders, payroll claims and affidavits, and any and all additional support documentation. OSAI further
recommends that in the event County records must be removed from County premises, management
establish policies and procedures to document what documentation is being removed, the reason and date
of the removal, and who is in custody of the documentation.
22
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND RESPONSES
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
Management Response:
Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners: Ottawa County will implement policies and
procedures to maintain and keep complete records of receipts and expenditures of all public funds to include
all supporting documentation on file at the proper office directed to maintain this information at all times.
No original documents will be allowed to leave said office unless requested by our legal counsel such as
the district attorney. Written requests, as per legal counsel will be the only exception and then only a copy
of said document will be released.
County Clerk: I was not County Clerk at this time as I did not take office until after the June 30, 2016
election, and was not familiar with the procedures.
Criteria: Title 19 O.S. § 245.A states in part, “It shall be the duty of the county clerk to designate
upon every account, which shall be audited and allowed by the board, the amount so
allowed, and the clerk shall deliver to any person a copy certified or otherwise of any record
in the clerk’s office and any account on file thereon…”
Title 51 O.S. § 24A.4 states, “In addition to other records which are kept or maintained, every
public body and public official has a specific duty to keep and maintain complete records
of the receipt and expenditure of any public funds reflecting all financial and business
transactions relating thereto, except that such records may be disposed of as provided by
law.”
Title 51 O.S. § 24A.5 states in part, “All records of public bodies and public officials shall be open
to any person for inspection, copying, or mechanical reproduction during regular business
hours” [exceptions follow]…
Furthermore, part 5 of Title 51 O.S. § 24A.5 states “a public body must provide prompt, reasonable
access to its records but may establish reasonable procedures which protect the integrity
and organization of its records and to prevent excessive disruptions of its essential
functions. Any public body which makes the requested records available on the Internet
shall meet the obligation of providing prompt, reasonable access to its records as required
by this paragraph.”
Finding 2015-6 - Conflict of Interest – Holding of Dual Offices (Repeat Finding)
Condition: The County Clerk was hired by the E-911 Trust Authority to serve as the Authority’s Clerical
Administrator. Her duties for the Authority consist of preparing payroll, agendas, deposit, bank
reconciliations, and any and all correspondence; maintaining accounts payable and files for history and
audit purposes; assisting with the budget process; and taking minutes of meetings.
In fiscal year 2015, the County Clerk received net pay in the amount of $12,652.44 for these services.
23
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND RESPONSES
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
Cause of Condition: Policies and procedures have not been designed and implemented to ensure no one
person holds offices within both the County and any of the County’s political subdivisions.
Effect of Condition: It appears the County Clerk may have violated Title 51 O.S. § 6.
Recommendation: OSAI recommends policies and procedures be established to ensure elected officials
and their deputies do not hold other positions within the County or its political subdivisions that would be
in violation of Title 51 O.S. § 6.
Management Response:
Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners: This issue will be placed on our agenda for discussion
related to amending our policies and procedures to address the conflict of interest of dual office holding to
ensure that no elected officials and their deputies are not eligible to hold other positions within the county
or its political subdivisions that would be in violation of Title 51 O.S. § 6.
Criteria: Title 51 O.S. § 6 prohibits any person “holding an office under the laws of the state” and
any “deputy of any officer so holding any office” from “hold[ing] any other office[,] or
be[ing] the deputy of any officer holding any office, under the laws of the state” “during
the person’s term of office”.
SECTION 2—This section contains certain matters not required to be reported in accordance with
Government Auditing Standards. However, we believe these matters are significant enough to bring
to management’s attention. We recommend that management consider these matters and take
appropriate corrective action.
Finding 2015-8 - Inadequate Internal Controls and Noncompliance Over Inmate Trust Fund
Checking Account and Sheriff Commissary Fund
Condition: Upon inquiry and observation of the Inmate Trust Fund Checking Account and Sheriff
Commissary Fund, the following exceptions were noted:
• The key to the safe, in which inmates’ money is held until deposited at the bank, is maintained on
the office manager’s desk and easily accessed by all.
• Collections are not deposited into the Inmate Trust Fund Checking Account on a daily basis.
• The Sheriff’s office does not file an Annual Report for the Commissary Fund with the Board of
County Commissioners by January 15th, of each year
Cause of Condition: Policies and procedures have not been designed and implemented regarding the
Inmate Trust Fund Checking Account and Sheriff Commissary Fund.
24
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND RESPONSES
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
Effect of Condition: These conditions resulted in noncompliance with state statutes. Also, without proper
accounting and safeguarding of the Inmate Trust Fund Checking Account, there is an increased risk of
misappropriation of funds.
Recommendation: OSAI recommends the following:
• All collections should be maintained in a secure location with limited access.
• Daily collections should be deposited to the Inmate Trust Fund Checking Account on a daily basis.
• The Sheriff should file a report of the commissary with the Board of County Commissioners by
January 15th, of each year.
Management Response:
County Sheriff: I was not Sheriff during this time. Immediate appropriate action will be taken to properly
secure the inmate’s money in the safe and to start making daily deposits of these collections. The sheriff's
office will also submit commissary reports by the designated date.
Criteria: Accountability and stewardship are overall goals of management in accounting of funds. To help
ensure a proper accounting of funds, collections should be maintained in a secure environment and
deposited at the bank on a daily basis. In addition, bank reconciliations should be performed accurately
each month and all reconciling items be identified and confirmed.
Title 19 O.S. § 180.43D requires that an annual report of the Sheriff’s Commissary be submitted to the
Board of County Commissioners by January 15th of the subsequent year.
Finding 2015-9 - Inadequate Internal Controls and Noncompliance Over Fixed Assets Inventory
Condition: Upon inquiry and observation of fixed assets inventory, we noted the following:
District 1:
• Although an annual count of is performed by District 1, a fixed assets inventory list is not filed with
the County Clerk.
• Inventory records did not include a dump truck with asset number 302.01.21.
District 2:
• Although an annual count of is performed by District 2, a fixed assets inventory list is not filed with
the County Clerk.
District 3:
• An annual fixed asset count is not being performed, a fixed assets inventory list is not filed with
the County Clerk.
• A fixed asset inventory list is not filed with the County Clerk.
• Inventory records did not include a service truck with VIN 1HTSCN883.
• A 1996 Chevy Pickup with inventory number 321-03.03 could not be located.
25
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND RESPONSES
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
Cause of Condition: Policies and procedures have not been designed and implemented to ensure
compliance with state statute regarding the identification and accounting of fixed assets.
Effect of Condition: These conditions resulted in noncompliance with state statutes. Opportunities for loss
and misappropriation of county assets may be more likely to occur when the County does not have
procedures in place to account for fixed assets.
Recommendation: OSAI recommends the County perform and document a periodic inventory of fixed
assets in accordance with 19 O.S. § 178.1.
Further, OSAI recommends the County adopt policies and procedures to implement a system of internal
controls over fixed assets. These controls would include:
• Perform an annual inventory count.
• Retain documentation to verify the physical inventory counts were performed.
• Inventory count should be performed by someone other than the receiving officer or inventory
officer.
• Up to date inventory records should be filed with the County Clerk.
Management Response:
County Commissioner District 1: Ottawa County District #1 received a dispatch from Ottawa County
Clerk's office issued by the Ottawa County Purchasing Agent, dated February 12, 2007 related to inventory
records according to the Oklahoma State Statutes stating that it is the duty of the county clerk to maintain
the master inventory record for all county owned equipment or land in our district. In addition, each county
office or department must maintain a subsidiary set of inventory records to be reviewed annually to make
certain that they match the master inventory record. A note was attached to this file, related to a phone
conversation from the County Clerk and the former District 1 Administrative Assistant dated December 9,
2008, that stated that the County Clerk informed the District 1 Administrative Assistant that one of the
purchasing schools informed them that the clerk's office was no longer enforced to house these records. As
per our meeting on April 5, 2017, I have directed Ottawa County District #1 Road Foreman to complete a
master log of all fixed assets and then submit the list to my current District 1 Administrative Assistant and
also to the Ottawa County Clerk's office on an annual basis.
Related to missing assets to inventory master list will be addressed will be taken care of when Road
Foreman for Ottawa County District #1 completes his inventory which is underway beginning April 6,
2017.
County Commissioner District 2: I took office on January 3, 2017 and I inherited the situation. However,
I have taken steps to improve inventory record keeping.
County Commissioner District 3: Annual fixed asset count will be performed on an annual event. I will
work with the County Clerk to ensure we are compliant and provide documentation. A fixed asset inventory
list will be compared with District 3 to ensure County Clerk has all updated information. District 3 will
ensure all County equipment is accounted for and all information will be provided to the County Clerk.
26
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND RESPONSES
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
County equipment that is no longer owned by District 3 will be removed from inventory list with disposition
status and supplied to the County Clerk.
Criteria: Accountability and stewardship are overall goals of management in the accounting of funds. An
important aspect of internal controls is the safeguarding of assets. Internal controls over safeguarding of
assets constitute a process, affected by an entity’s governing body, management, and other personnel,
designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized
transactions and safeguarding assets from misappropriation. Effective internal controls include designing
and implementing procedures to ensure that all supplies, materials, and equipment received, disbursed,
stored and consumed by their department comply with:
Title 19 O.S. § 178.1 requires the board of county commissioners in each county of this state to take or
cause to be taken, an inventory of all working tools, apparatus, machinery and equipment.
Title 19 O.S. § 178.2 requires each elected county official to create and maintain inventory records and file
those records with the County Clerk.
Title 19 O.S. § 178.3A requires the County Clerk to be the custodian and repository of all inventory records,
files and reports.
Title 19 O.S. § 1504 requires the receiving officer to maintain a record of all items received, disbursed,
stored and consumed by the department.
Title 69 O.S. § 645 requires all county owned, rented, or leased road machinery or equipment be clearly
and visibly marked “Property Of”.
Finding 2015-10 - Inadequate Internal Controls and Noncompliance Over Consumable Inventories
(Repeat Finding)
Condition: Upon inquiry and observation of consumable inventories for Districts 1, 2, and 3, we noted the
following:
District 1:
• Unleaded and diesel fuel held in the stationary fuel tanks is not accurately measured. The gauges
on the tanks do not give accurate readings and the tanks were not monitored to obtain a fuel
measurement.
• Variances between consumable record balances and actual amounts on hand are indicated as
follows:
Inventory Item Consumable Records Physical Count Variance
40w20 Oil 222 Gallons 155 Gallons (67) gallons
Grader Blades 88 Blades 85 Blades (3) Blades
27
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND RESPONSES
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
District 2:
• Satellite tanks are not locked and fuel usage is not tracked.
• Fuel usage is not tracked for portable tanks.
• Variances between consumable record balances and actual amounts on hand are indicated as
follows:
Inventory Item Consumable Records Physical Count Variance
Grader Blades 102 Blades 90 Blades (12) Blades
District 3:
• There were no records indicating when the last consumable inventory was performed.
• Consumable records did not have running balances.
• Transfer documents were not used.
• Satellite tanks are not locked and fuel usage is not tracked.
• Fuel usage is not tracked for portable tanks.
Cause of Condition: Policies and procedures have not been designed and implemented by county officers
for the accurate reporting of consumable inventory items.
Effect of Condition: These conditions resulted in noncompliance with state statutes. Opportunities for loss
and misappropriation of county assets may be more likely to occur when the County does not have
procedures in place to account for consumable inventories.
Recommendation: OSAI recommends the County adopt policies and procedures and design and
implement a system of internal controls over consumable inventories. These controls would include:
• Performing and documenting a periodic physical count of inventory.
• Maintaining accurate consumable records that indicate running balances for all consumable items.
• Preparing and maintaining transfer documents for all consumable items.
• Separating the key functions of receiving, maintaining, and verifying consumable inventories.
• Maintaining a fuel log with all pertinent information including a current balance for all stationary,
satellite, and portable fuel tanks.
• Properly securing fuel maintained in satellite tanks.
• Reconciling fuel log periodically to actual fuel on hand and explain any variance or adjustments.
Management Response:
County Commissioner District 1:
Unleaded, diesel and oils are logged on a daily activity log that each employee is required to maintain at
the end of each work day, as well as what equipment each employee uses on a given day. A weekly log is
maintained for each unit of equipment to track each consumable item that has been added to each unit.
These reports are transferred on a weekly basis. Unleaded and diesel tanks are checked by a measuring stick
with the proper measurement marks that correspond with the dimensions of each tank every workday and
then deducted from the total from the previous day’s measurements to come up with the current balance of
28
OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND RESPONSES
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
each tank. These balances are computed each Thursday which is the end of our normal work week. Our
grader blades are inventoried on a monthly interval. They are also tracked on the daily activity log and then
the two are compared at the end of the month.
Auditor Response: During our testwork, it was noted that District 1 did not have a stick to measurer fuel
tanks and that the gauges on the fuel tanks did not give an accurate reading of the gallons held in the tanks.
County Commissioner District 2: I took office on January 3, 2017 and I inherited the situation. However,
I have taken steps to improve inventory recordkeeping. We have placed locks on all satellite fuel tanks and
metering devices on all pumps. Additionally, records on the fuel purchased and used on each tank is being
maintained.
County Commissioner District 3:
• Records will be maintained to show consumable inventory is performed.
• All consumables will be maintained to ensure balances are kept.
• Transfer documents will be used and maintained.
• Satellite tanks will be secured with lock and fuel usage will be documented.
• Portable tanks will not be used by District 3; all fuel usage will be used by main tanks.
Criteria: Accountability and stewardship are overall goals of management in the accounting of funds. An
important aspect of internal controls is the safeguarding of assets. Internal controls over safeguarding of
assets constitute a process, affected by an entity’s governing body, management, and other personnel,
designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized
transactions and safeguarding assets from misappropriation.
Title 19 O.S. § 1504A requires the receiving officer to maintain records of all items received, disbursed,
stored and consumed by the department.
29
OFFICE OF THE STATE AUDITOR & INSPECTOR
2300 N. LINCOLN BOULEVARD, ROOM 100
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73105-4896
WWW.SAI.OK.GOV