Grand Traverse Commissioners are asking why county financial records aren’t being reconciled in a timely manner.
It's something Vice Chair TJ Andrews says hasn’t happened for the last two years.
At a Wednesday study session, Andrews questioned County Treasurer James Callahan on why the county is still behind on reconciling its accounts. She said this was a conversation that went back to last September.
“This isn't the first conversation we're having about getting on track," said Andrews. "I feel like this board has been told repeatedly, 'We're imminently getting on track. We're almost there.' We are now in April and we're still not on track, and it becomes an oversight challenge on our part."
At issue is getting the county’s financial records to match audited records each month. That process involves verifying that all receipts, balances, and investments are accurate and accounted for.
According to commissioners, the treasurer’s office has not met that standard for their 2024 audit. County Financial Director Dean Bott said he believes last year's 2025 audit will not meet that standard either.
"I believe we will receive the same audit finding in 2025, because we were not able to reconcile the accounts within the 30 days that they recommended," said Bott.
In the most recent GT County Treasurer Annual Report publicly available online, the report showed the treasurer was responsible to account for the receipts of nearly $170 million in 2023.
Callahan acknowledged the delays and said his office is still weeks behind, though outside help has been brought in from Gratiot County. Bott pointed to staffing shortages as a key factor slowing progress.
"It gives me pause when Gratiot County is voluntarily pulling data so that Grand Traverse County can meet its basic county service obligations," said Andrews. "That's not a look that I think reflects well on — frankly — the office of the treasurer or on the county as a whole."
