State audit reveals dozens of late financial filings
According to Missouri law, all cities, towns and villages are required to file an annual financial report to the state auditor’s office within six months of the end of its fiscal year.
A recent report by the auditor’s office found that of the 333 municipalities examined, only 44 percent met the required deadline.
“I’m disappointed by the dismal success rate demonstrated by so many local governments who are failing to provide even the most basic information about their own financial management,” Auditor Nicole Galloway said. “These reporting requirements are not new and they are not complicated. When local governments can’t provide this essential information, they are failing to meet fundamental obligations to transparency and accountability in government.”
The 333 municipalities examined in the report had fiscal years that ended June 30, 2016, and were required to submit the report by Dec. 31, 2016.
This report comes less than three months after another audit found poor compliance with the state’s sunshine law.
