State auditor claims Morgan County violated state law when giving sheriff $37k in raises

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick released his audit of Morgan County on Thursday and gave it a “fair” rating.

"The good news is the county doesn't show any signs of excessive waste or fraud, but it does have several areas lacking controls and procedures, which can lead to inefficiency and increase the possibility that fraudulent activity could occur,” Fitzpatrick wrote in a press release.

Among possible issues included “mid-term salary increases” for its sheriff totaling $37,437 as of 2024, the report says. Fitzpatrick claims the salary increases violated the Missouri Constitution.

The report shows the county responded, saying it disagreed with Fitzpatrick’s assertion and cited a Cole County court case that it believes supports its decision to give the raise. Fitzpatrick in the report argued that the case did not address sheriff pay.

Another claim in the report accused the county commission of not adequately monitoring its “budget-to-actual receipts and disbursements.”

“Actual disbursements exceeded the county's budgeted disbursements by nearly $3 million for the year ended December 31, 2024,” the report says.

The county responded in the report saying, “At the beginning of 2026 during the budget process, the Morgan County Commissioners decided they would begin doing a mid-year budget review and then monthly after that.”