I am most impressed -- http://www.independentmail.com/news/2008/jun/17/anderson-county-council-votes-complete-forensic-au/
At last, an audit will show what the true status of the county finances may be.
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Forensic Audit
Looks like Ron Wilson and Larry Greer got the memo the voters sent last week, although it seems to have been delayed on the way to Bill McAbee's and Michael Thompson's inboxes. Those of you who have a different interpretation of that result feel free to disagree, but the forensic audit was the elephant in the room going into this election cycle.
The good thing about this is it happened quickly once that message was sent. This should have been done two years ago, even if just to humor the critics. If it had been done, I suspect at least one and possibly all three of the incumbents ousted last Tuesday would still be around next year to see the results of this audit.
The biggest remaining question is, "Will Joey Preston be around when those audit results com in?" 
It really is becoming impossible to determine who is a Southern Republican and what SRs stand for, at least in Anderson. I thought fiscal responsibility was at the forefront of SR agenda.
To spend at least a half million, and probably more,for a forensic audit of data that had already been certified as materially clean is ludicrous and pure idiocy.
Once done, the cry will be to do another year, and another. . .ad infinitum.
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"Bob Waldrep and Cindy Wilson opposed and Gracie Floyd abstaining'
Now there is a big F-ing surprise, who would have ever guessed.......
Waldrep and Cindy Wilson voted against the overall BUDGET, Zn. They voted for the forensic audit amendment, with Thompson and McAbee voting against and Floyd abstaining.
Another question is - have Michael and Bill been promised anything, like, say,a job in the economic development department? If I were Heather Jones, I'd be checking my hole card.
First of all, there is no such thing as “a complete audit.” No CPA firm would ever take a contract to do ‘a complete audit’.
The extent of the assignment must be specifically defined.
Does it mean every single entry on the books, whether a disbursement of $1.50 in funds or a receipt of a monthly water bill payment ?
Does it mean confirming with the payee named that they indeed are valid and exist ?
If the explanation says it was a dinner at Sullivans with representatives from a small manufacturing plant in Seattle wanting to expand Eastward, how is that to be confirmed as valid ? Etc, etc, etc,
Not only the extent, but also the period. Would it be an adjunct to the upcoming audit or for a prior period ?
After a single period, would that suffice or would there then be an outcry for additional periods to be audited ?
Next, or perhaps first, the funding should be determined. After all, we are talking about something that will probably be costing more than the half million originally estimated. How can a million or more be justified to the taxpayer who ultimately pays for this ?
Nope, there is no such thing as ‘a complete audit’. Let’s not forget that a CPA firm puts its reputation and future livelihood on the line if some material inappropriate transaction was missed in the certified annual audit.
I believe that no matter how it is defined, the results will never justify the cost, and probably as a result, two years from now there will be another upheaval of Council members.
I am not encouaged by a blank-check, open ended audit done by a group whom has NEVER done such a task. Whats to say this latest boondoggle won't end up costing the quoted $1.2 million dollars??? And then who do we hang for spend money in a tight budget for THAT one???? Joey P. again? I don't think so folks. Cindy asked, so cindy pays.
This audit garbage has been and will continue to be a witch-hunt, sponsored by MCW. I chalk this audit request up to her deflection of her own illegalities and shifting of focus away from that. No audit done will come up with anything different than we are now about a million dollars poorer than we were.
Wyatt: MCW was unable to get it done. You may not have read about it, but I think this was put forth by Mr Ron Wilson, and also had a Yea vote from Mr Greer.
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maybe when all this is done it will put all this other BS in the county council to rest.....
JD:
Didn't Preston's contract just renew for three years? Is a buy-out in the wings? Despite many claims to the contrary, no one (NO ONE) has brought any proof forward that Preston has broken any law. Some, perhaps many, don't agree with him, but he sure gets the job done. A few clearer policies from the council and he will do even better. Also, doesn't "forensic" imply criminal ? I don't know for sure, but I don't think Preston has any criminal charges against him. An audit is an audit.
Despite many views to the contray, Anderson County has about the same level of audit each year as Pickens or Oconee and most every other county in the state.???? What's the deal? The radio crowd and MCW, with some help from Waldrip, has gotton a segment (only 27% of registered voters voted) of the community believing there is fraud or something worse going on. As you no doubt know, in low turnout elections, it is the special interests that turnout. Give the WAIM stupid six credit, they pulled off a coup d'e tat with no proof, just outrageous claims. JD: I would think you would want some facts before you declare Preston gone (I know, you only asked a question).
Don't count on it - none of this is about an audit - it's about revenge - she has lost and lost and lost in the courts - she wants his head (figuratively) on a platter. They got my man Bill and now they are after JP. Oh, count on this, Bill will be back because voters will tire of the WAIM puppets!
Bill McAbee is so politically dead, he's starting to smell. he couldn't get elected to dog catcher.
Preston..."Gets the job done" WHAT... have you driven on the county roads in the past few years?????
We don't have roads anymore, just trails. What, you didn't get the memo?
Sorry, Reublikin, I didn't see your questions initially. Wasn't ignoring them, but I'm not going to try to answer all of them, either, because most of the are just spin.
I will take a swing at two of them, though.
First, "forensic" means "criminal" only to those who watch too much television. There are other definitions. In fact, do you know what the art of public debate called? Yep. "Forensics." A "forensic audit" may or may not uncover criminal activity - and I've said several times that I personally don't believe one would uncover anything beyond a few minor violations and deficient internal controls within county administration - but it certainly will serve to resolve questions that have come up in the public debate.
I do believe resolving those issues to the satisfaction of everybody - either by uncovering those discrepancies, or by showing there are very few or none - will go a long way toward allowing Anderson County to move forward with its real business without the distractions.
Second, my question about whether Joey will be around to see the results of that audit was not intended to be any sort of indictment of him regarding any legal findings of an audit.
Rather, I was wondering how he will deal with the new Council. It's easy to be the cock of the walk with a 5-2 majority that wants a rooster, but what will happen if he winds up with a 4-3 split on Council with a majority who don't believe, as he does, that the only reason the sun comes up every morning in Anderson County is because he crows?
Cuzz - I drive on county roads everyday - they are not bad - what's your beef?
JD - thanks for the reply.
I think you will see Mr. Preston adjust. Thus far he has done what the majority of council has supported - as he should, while he pushes or advocates for other things. Let's have the audit.
All this time I thought the sun came up because of me??????? How foolish of me. Usually I'm up before the sun because the kids require attention and preparation each day. I'll listen for Preston's crowing. Would that be anything like Charles Crowe spouting off each day on WAIM?
There are some similarities to Charles, Republikin, but Charles doesn't have access to county credit cards and taxpayer-funded travel and entertainment accounts. He has to crow on his own dime. 
Lielongreppublican:
Nothing is absolute in politics - he'll be back ! By the time Tom Allen get his taxing policies working the WAIM crowd will turn on him like a hockey skater. They'll cry for Bill to return just as they played up to Mike Holden (whom they duded "Mousie") and now use him to bash the council and Mr. Preston. It's a vicious cycle at WAIM. In the mean time, my man Bill will be doing economic development as a citizen and realtor. He'll keep working to better Anderson County while folks like you do all you can to tear it down. Got to go - Sunday nite baths for the kiddies.
