We need leadership to fix the City's audit problem.
The City of Jackson MUST get back on a responsible and trustworthy audit timeline.
As Mayor, I will lead our staff in breaking the cycle of five years of late audits. We need a plan that is direct, results-based, addresses the current deficiencies, and sets guidelines to prevent future occurrences.
Here is my plan to get us back on track for the 2027 audit:
1.
Hire professional temporary assistance for the Finance Department.
2.
Hire an internal auditor (the City has been searching since March) to work alongside the external auditors.
3.
Publish a recovery timeline and comprehensive plan for getting the city current on its audits.
4.
Create a public audit calendar for the current audit and update it weekly for accountability:
-Goals, set by date, to get caught up
-Deadlines from the external audit firm from communication by the Internal Auditor
-Updated weekly on the City website
5.
Proactively communicate the status of the audit to the community through the City website and public updates to restore trust in the system.
6.
Implement monthly and quarterly financial statements to show budget vs actual.
7.
Submit a council resolution formalizing financial deadlines for the City to follow.
8.
9.
Capture State Comptroller’s Office comments to implement best practices for the future.
10.
Establish training for internal financial administrators so that they can better understand financial policies and can help the City keep timely records.