$188,000 in missing funds discovered through Utah State Auditor hotline

IRON COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) — $188,000 in missing Iron County building permit funds were discovered through the Utah State Auditor hotline.

Rahn Rampton with the Office of the Utah State Auditor said that, following a whistleblower hotline complaint alleging that cash building permit fees in Iron County had been misappropriated, the Office of the Utah State Auditor’s office performed a limited review of Iron County’s cash receipting processes.

The results were announced on Wednesday and reported that approximately $188,000 in missing cash building permit payments, dating back to 2018, were identified.

“Credit goes to the whistleblower who had the courage to contact our office,” said Utah State
Auditor Tina M. Cannon. “With that information, our office was able to initiate our limited
review, bring additional facts to light, and ensure proper safeguards were implemented going
forward. Our role is not only to identify weaknesses, but also to help counties and cities
strengthen their systems so public money is protected.”

Rampton said that the Office of the State Auditor will be working with the Iron County Auditor to share lessons learned and provide training opportunities for other entities. These trainings will ensure that proper internal controls are in place and that taxpayers’ money is protected.

Cash receipting practices

Rampton said that the limited review also found broader weaknesses in county cash receipting practices.

“The report includes recommendations to improve reconciliation procedures, strengthen controls over mailed payments, and ensure timely deposits in accordance with Utah law,” Rampton said.

Auditor Cannon with the State Auditor’s Office said that her office is ready to “support counties and cities in improving their oversight and building the processes needed to safeguard taxpayer dollars and maintain public trust.”

The full report is available on the Office of the Utah State Auditor’s website.