Adams County CoVid-19 Response and Recovery

Adams County Receives Internal Controls Audit Results Outlining Concerns with Treasurer’s Office Reporting

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Posted on: February 3, 2022

Adams County received an internal controls audit this week showing multiple areas of concern with the Treasurer’s Office operations, including:

  • Accounting and Reporting
  • Safeguarding of Assets
  • Segregation of Duties
  • Written Policies and Procedures and Job Descriptions
  • General Concerns

Areas assessed in the audit include selected financial records, including bank records, bank reconciliations, financial reports, and Tyler Technologies (software system) data exports for Jan. 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021; financial policies and procedures; job descriptions; and random testing of accounting and financial processes in the Treasurer’s Office. 

“The findings in this report are unfortunately exactly what we expected and have experienced to date from the Treasurer’s Office,” said Lynn Baca, Board Chair. “We are seeking legal action through the courts to request a receiver be appointed soon to help remedy this situation and allow us to continue providing top-notch service to our residents – that’s the priority here.”

Not having access to the data has caused major impacts to county operations including reporting to the Adams County Board of Commissioners and residents in a timely and accurate manner, inability to reconcile bank balances and accurately track revenue amounts and payments, and delays in completing required year-end reporting.

Additional potential impacts may include missing assets, unresolved complaints regarding payments, other internal county departments unable to complete their reporting in a timely manner, and negatively affecting the county’s credit rating.

To date, the Board of County Commissioners, the County Attorney’s Office, and the Budget & Finance Department have all made multiple attempts to gain access to financial data, with little to no success.

To try to resolve the access issues, in 2021 the Board of Commissioners sent letters and met with the Treasurer, demanded access for two auditing firms to conduct internal audits, and eventually filed litigation in October to gain access to the Treasurer’s Office accounts and ultimately ensure the statutory obligations of the Treasurer’s Office are being met.

Adams County will continue to petition the courts to expedite appointing an independent investigative committee to review the Treasurer’s Office and a receiver to protect the public’s interest.

Statement from the Adams County Board of Commissioners – Provided Oct. 28, 2021

“We are unified as a Board that legal action is required to ensure this independently elected office is transparent in the accounting of county taxpayer dollars. The Treasurer serves as the bank for Adams County, and by law, these accounts must be open to inspection. To date, the Treasurer has not provided the required reports and has not provided adequate information requested to allow for a standard audit of the office. The limited information the Board has been able to gather indicates the Treasurer is not timely or accurate in performing statutory duties, which could negatively impact the county’s bond rating and financial outlook.

Transparency is among the core values in public service and this Board is committed to providing our residents and partner agencies with access to financial records, audit reports, and confidence in good governance.”

Flag
Posted on: December 6, 2016

Gov. Hickenlooper Orders Flags Lowered

Gov. John Hickenlooper today ordered flags lowered to half-staff on all public buildings statewide on Wednesday, Dec. 7, in honor of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, 2016, and as proclaimed by President Barack Obama.

 

David Ball
Posted on: December 5, 2016

Adams County Hires David Ball as Facilities Management Director

Adams County has selected David Ball as the new Facilities Management Director. Ball will oversee the department responsible for new construction and renovation, building repair and maintenance, environmental services, landscaping, equipment repair, preventative maintenance, solid waste pick up, and recycling.

“We’re excited to get someone with David’s talents and experience to lead our Facilities Management team,” said County Manager Todd Leopold. “David is the best candidate to handle the responsibilities of our current facilities, as well as those under construction.”

Posted on: December 2, 2016

CDOT Announces Delays and Ramp Closures on Westbound I-76

On Sunday, Dec. 4 starting at 8 p.m., motorists should expect delays overnight on westbound Interstate 76 while crews shift travel lanes onto new detour pavement. Westbound I-76 will be reduced to a single lane from 8 p.m. on Sunday until 5:00 a.m. on Monday morning. 

Flag
Posted on: November 30, 2016

Gov. Hickenlooper Orders Flags Lowered

Gov. John Hickenlooper ordered flags be lowered to half-staff on Friday, Dec. 2, on all public buildings statewide in memory of Colorado State Patrol Trooper Cody Donahue. Flags should be lowered from sunrise to sunset.

Trooper Donahue, 34, was struck and killed while investigating a crash on I-25 south of Castle Rock on the afternoon of November 25, 2016. He had served as a Colorado State Trooper for 11 years. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

National Adoption Day
Posted on: November 21, 2016

Adams County Finalizes 12 Adoptions on National Adoption Day

Just in time for the holidays, National Adoption Day on Saturday, Nov. 19, marked a new beginning for 12 children in Adams County. Chief Judge Patrick T. Murphy gathered the families for a carnival-themed celebration before they finalized their adoptions.

Black Friday at the Animal Shelter
Posted on: November 21, 2016

Belated Black Friday Special at the Animal Shelter

Who says Black Friday deals have to end on Friday? As part of our the Animal Shelter’s “Belated Black Friday Special,” on Saturday, Nov. 26, and Sunday, Nov. 27, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., adoption fees for dogs will be marked down to $39.99 and $19.99 for cats—some exceptions may apply. Please visit the shelter or call 303.288.3294 for more information. 

 

Posted on: November 18, 2016

Adams County Celebrates Re-Opening of Affordable Housing Complex

Adams County Community and Economic Development DepartmentRepresentatives from the Adams County Community & Economic Development Department (CED) helped celebrate the grand re-opening of the Greenleaf Apartments complex on Beeler Street in an unincorporated area of the county near Aurora on Thursday, Nov. 17.

Open Space Grants
Posted on: November 15, 2016

Adams County Commissioners Award $5.8 Million in Open Space Grants

As a result of the voter-approved Open Space Sales Tax, the Adams County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) awarded $5.8 million in open space grants for nine projects during today’s public hearing. Funding for this grant cycle came from revenues from the first half of the 2016 Adams County Open Space Sales Tax.

The Open Space Advisory Board reviewed 14 grant applications for this grant cycle, recommending that the BOCC approve seven of the projects for full funding, and two projects for partial funding. Today, the BOCC awarded nine open space grants totaling $5,877,412.77.

Posted on: November 14, 2016

Adams County Celebrates National Adoption Day

Six adoptions to be finalized at special celebration

In celebration of National Adoption Day on Saturday, Nov. 19, the Adams County Board of Commissioners, Human Services Department, and the 17th Judicial District will host a special celebration at the Adams County Justice Center, 1100 Judicial Center Dr., Brighton, 9–11 a.m., to finalize six adoptions for Adams County children and their new families.