Auditor: Madison Co. deputy collector charged after more than $13K goes missing

MADISON COUNTY, Mo. (KFVS) - The state auditor released a follow-up review of the Madison County Collector’s Office.

It found that the County Commission and the County Collector have made progress implementing the audit recommendations to better protect taxpayer dollars.

“When public resources are stolen, it is vital for public officials to restore citizens’ confidence as soon as possible,” Auditor Nicole Galloway said. “I am encouraged this follow-up report shows officeholders in Madison County are taking the steps necessary to restore that trust. My office will continue to work with law enforcement officials as the criminal charges are prosecuted.”

The former Madison County deputy collector Kelsey Skaggs-Gresham was charged with five felony counts of stealing in August.

Read the full audit of the Madison County Collector’s Office HERE.

In July 2019, Auditor Galloway released an audit completed by the Public Corruption and Fraud Division, centering on how more than $13,000 went missing from the Madison County Collector’s Office between January 2017 and October 2018.

That audit said tax payments amounting to $13,263 were recorded in the property tax system and a paid tax receipt was issued, but the transactions were deleted. This represented 66 individual personal property and real estate tax payments.

The follow-up report found that the County Commission and the County Collector are working with law enforcement regarding the prosecution of the former deputy collector.

The County Collector also started performing independent or supervisory reviews of financial transactions and implemented procedures to account for the numerical sequence of receipt slip numbers. Changes have also been made to the system so that office personnel are no longer able to delete transactions.

Auditors identified five areas of concern to evaluate during the follow-up review. Three recommendations were implemented. For the other two, they made progress or the recommendation was partially implemented.