Auditor suggests cross-training program
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WORLAND – Washakie County Commissioners met on Tuesday, to hear county agency reports and to be briefed on a county audit conducted by the accounting firm of Carver, Florek, and James of Rock Springs.
Myriah McCullogh, a certified public accountant with the firm, advised the commission that Washakie County has suffered a loss due to state budget cuts totaling $400,000, while the county’s expenditures had increased by $500,000.
The report provided by McCullogh (on file at the office of the county clerk) details the county’s current position, with overall governmental revenue as of June 2016 of $7,645,072 and governmental expenditures of $8,203,534, leaving an end-of-year fund governmental balance of $4,967,738.
The county’s overall net position for operations was $16,993,248. A separate line item for the hospital board was listed as $4,090,954 to accommodate for an improvement grant.
McCullogh categorized the county’s position as good, while offering a list of suggestions to streamline the county’s operations for future audits. McCullogh suggested to the commission a cross-training program in the treasurer and county clerk’s offices, so that all staff of each office could accomplish the same tasks and use the same protocol, in the event something should happen to either the county treasurer or clerk. The commission agreed to look into any such program, and speak with the offices regarding consistency training.
In other business, the commission met with representatives from the County Extension Office to discuss current educational programs and upcoming events, including WESTI Ag Days in February.
While the educators were in attendance, Commissioner Aaron Anderson introduced an idea to get Washakie County youth, particularly high school students, more involved with local government. Under the proposal, the commission would work in conjunction with the Extension office to form a youth leadership program, so that interested teens could act as delegates and have “youth seats” on the county’s various boards and councils.
“We have a lot of people doing work behind the scenes to make our county and state run, and I don’t think the kids have any idea what it all entails,” said Anderson. “Kids looking at leadership [roles] would have a pathway to help make a difference in their community with a program like this.”
Commission Chairman Terry Wolf and Commissioner Fred Frandson endorsed the idea, and agreed that a youth perspective might be beneficial on many of the county’s boards. “I think they could offer ideas that some of the older board members may not have thought of,” remarked Frandson, “plus, it would create more interest in government at a local level.”
