2008 County Audit Finally In ??????
A few weeks ago it was announced by the County Executive and the Financial Management Director that the 2008 State Audit for the County had been release and that Giles County only had two small deficiencies that dealt with the Ambulance Service. Commissioners were told that copies of the Audit would be mailed to them shortly. As of this morning no County Commissioner had received a copy of the audit or any information about deficiencies.
The truth of the matter is that there are a number of deficiencies revealed in the Audit some very significant and none involving the Ambulance Department.
These are the deficiencies listed in the Audit.
1) OFFICE OF FINANCE DIRECTOR:
A) Expenditures Exceeded Appropriations. Amount overspent $68,667.00.
B) Competitive Bids Were Not Solicited For The Purchase Of Occupational Injury Insurance. Competitive bids were not solicited for the purchase of occupational injury insurance for the Offices of County Executive and Highway Commissioner.
2) OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLS:
A) Expenditures Exceeded Appropriations. Amount Overspent $60,429.00.
B) Office Had Purchasing Deficiencies. Competitive bids were solicited through public advertisement for property and casualty insurance. However, the bid specifications required the bidder to be a Giles County Insurance Agency.
C) Competitive bids were solicited through public advertisement for playground equipment. However the bid specifications were acquired from a manufacturer of playground equipment then the Board of Education received and accepted one bid totaling $49,877 from a subsidiary of the manufacturer.
3) General Ledger Payroll Liability Accounts Were Not Reconciled With Payroll Reports And Payments
4) OFFICE OF COUNTY CLERK:
A) Office Had Deficiencies In Computer System Backup Procedures
5) OTHER FINDING AND RECOMMENDATION:
A) Duties Were Not Segregated Adequately In The Offices Of Trustee, Clerk And Master, And Register.
Allen Barrett
The truth of the matter is that there are a number of deficiencies revealed in the Audit some very significant and none involving the Ambulance Department.
These are the deficiencies listed in the Audit.
1) OFFICE OF FINANCE DIRECTOR:
A) Expenditures Exceeded Appropriations. Amount overspent $68,667.00.
B) Competitive Bids Were Not Solicited For The Purchase Of Occupational Injury Insurance. Competitive bids were not solicited for the purchase of occupational injury insurance for the Offices of County Executive and Highway Commissioner.
2) OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLS:
A) Expenditures Exceeded Appropriations. Amount Overspent $60,429.00.
B) Office Had Purchasing Deficiencies. Competitive bids were solicited through public advertisement for property and casualty insurance. However, the bid specifications required the bidder to be a Giles County Insurance Agency.
C) Competitive bids were solicited through public advertisement for playground equipment. However the bid specifications were acquired from a manufacturer of playground equipment then the Board of Education received and accepted one bid totaling $49,877 from a subsidiary of the manufacturer.
3) General Ledger Payroll Liability Accounts Were Not Reconciled With Payroll Reports And Payments
4) OFFICE OF COUNTY CLERK:
A) Office Had Deficiencies In Computer System Backup Procedures
5) OTHER FINDING AND RECOMMENDATION:
A) Duties Were Not Segregated Adequately In The Offices Of Trustee, Clerk And Master, And Register.
Allen Barrett
posted by Allen Barrett | 11:34 AM
63 Comments:
The truth of the matter??? Another negative thread. What about your own deficiencies?
Sure didn't take you long 4:49 to post a negative comment.
The wonderful thing about my deficiencies is they aren't audited by the state and I haven't asked the taxpayers of this county to cover them with their money. Allen Barrett
wab...
That's because you knew I would clal your hand to the negative nature of the thread. Oh, be assured that I keep an eye on what you are doing just as you do those you dislike or resent. Anything wrong with that?
Perhaps your deficiencies should be audited by your followers? Just a thought.
Thanks WAB for letting me know how my tax dollars are being spent!! Wished some of the others on here were not always so negative about everthing. Wished they could see someone does care about how the hard working people of Giles Countys money is being spent.
WAB
Thanks for letting us know what is going on in Giles County.
I hope everyone remembers it when we go to the polls.
Folks, just remember one thing clearly; The idiot 4:49 has both hands in your pocket. Everytime you see her trash, remember you'll either clean the crap up, or pay through the nose.
She's rubbing your nose in it!
Anybody else find it incredible that documented evidence of over 100k of our tax dollars was REPORTED and all some dufus cares about is zinging wab? Maybe they have money to burn, for sure they don't care about tax payers, and they call wab negative???Facts are neither positive or negative 4:49, but since "ignorance is bliss", you surely must be ecstatic. I too appreciate wab posting FACTS on here. Thank you sir.
I see the cheerleaders are out in force, feeding an already hugely inflated ego.
to 9/:47
There you go again calling names. My hands are in noboby's pockets, and, the last time I looked, I'm a man. How silly of you to call me an idiot! Think about it.
And you are so incredibly wrong about my motives for challenging wab. I just get tired of his continually trying to stir up trouble and destroy the reputations of select individuals. And your cheering him on when he misbehaves is not helping one bit.
It sure is funny how you keep changing from a woman to man and back again. Most everyone knows who you are anyway. You can't stand Mr. Barrett because he keeps reporting everything that you don't want the people of Giles County to know.
Sure would like to know what 6:29/4:49 thinks about the audit.
Here's a simple question 6:29,without any comment about WAB would you write a comment about the audit findings or do you just not think about such things as the state telling us the way we're doing business is not acceptable?
To the idiot who's motives of challenging WAB are unclear, Here's your chance to clarify what your motives are and to put to rest wether you are a woman or not. Challenge WAB to a public debate. Here's your chace, step up and be a man (or a woman).
Now that's an event I'd love to attend but doubt it'll ever happen cowards never come out from under their rocks.
I don't care what your hero reports. And I have NOTHING to hide and no agenda. Furthermore, I don't have to explain my motives AGAIN for challenging this man's behavior. I'm amazed that you can't see it for yourself. Even in the first paragraph of this thread topic, he attacked both Mrs. Vanzant and the Financial Management Director by suggesting dishonesty.
Challenge wab to a public debate? Are you serious? He is ALWAYS right anyway, isn't he? So why bother?
He is right 5:22 and that is what terrifies you. You debate him as anonymous because you are the coward. You would never have a conversation with him in person. I assume you can read since you are on this blog, so I ask you to read the audit and don't make a fool of yourself by trying to cover for Janet V. & Loretta G. Man up and call a spade a spade. Think you can do that? It takes Allen Barrett to post it on this blog for anyone to even know the results. People like you are to dingy or just plain oblivious to the fact that these two women along with all county employees are accountable to us. How many excuses are you going to make for wrong doing and deceitful action in this county? Don't you ever get tired of that same old little voice in your head that clearly is in denial. You just read the audit and post back here your pearls of wisdom. If you come back and say nothing is wrong we know you are a follower and corrupt to the core. Open your eyes for a change and maybe we won't have to all be so disappointed in you for a change. HA!
6:57
No, I just don't feel the need to have my name plastered around everywhere to be seen of men. Your charges about my defending Mrs.Vanzant and Ms. Garner are totally false. As I said, think what you will, and I'll certainly do the same.
To 8:47. Since you are so critical of what I posted would you please share with us how you would have posted this article?
Please tell how you would have worded this information after finding that it had been kept from the Commissioners?
What would you say to describe why it was reported that there were only two minor deficiencies noted in the state audit?
How would you feel if you worked for the Ambulance Service and were clearly lied about?
Please share with us all how you would have handled this information. I think your response would be very interesting to us all. Allen Barrett
I have an idea how she would have worded it. It would have gone something like this," Ah, my dog ate it".
wab...
Well, since you asked let me respond. I would NOT have posted this thread in the negative way you did. You clearly and cleverly suggested that Mrs. Vanzant and Mrs. Garner were liars. Was that really necessary?
One of your cheerleaders thinks I'm a female. Could you set her straight? Thanks.
Where did you get the audit? I cannot find an audit for anything but the 08 books. I really would like to see the audit for myself. There should be an audit on the 09 books, shouldn't there. I know that 09 is not over but it is for the county since their year is July 08-June 09. I went to state site and all I found was 08. Mr. Barrett let us know where to look since you have seen it.
08 audit is the last one completed. For fiscal year 09 it won't take place under July or so next year.
Okay Miss, once again you have avoided taking responsibility. WAB once again asked you a direct question and you have not answered. He asked you how you would have worded it. All you have done is stated how you would not have worded it.
5:20
I wouldn't have started that thread to begin with. That's all I have to say about that..........f. gump.
Since when was Forrest a female anyhow?
Exactly, 6:58, you would not have started the thread to begin with; kept everything hush hush. There was nothing negative in the thread until you piped up; I will repeat that has been on here repeatedly, "just because you don't like the facts, does not change the facts." If you had an inkling of reading anything objectively you would see, that the topics aren't seldom slanted one way or the other, it's a news article and you generally are the one who immediately gets defensive. To paraphrase, "me thinks you doth protest too much."
This must be some kind of a sick joke - the Audit was released 5-18-2009! Are we saying the County hasn't published the results until now?!
Look at the school budget documents on pages 108 & 109 - glowing budget favorability!!!! (???)
$692000 favorability in local taxes! remember the false sales tax in the 2008 original budget??? - that was never changed! - revenues low ball fudged, expenses bloated, & reserves wiped out in a budget that had to have MORE MONEY???
$280000 favorable in teacher pay???
$1,117,000 favorable net change in fund balance???
$463,000 favorable ending fund balance???
The word is impropiety! Wow, In a year of wild spending & raiding of the real fund balance.
A real work of Jackson art! Compare it to the prior year 2007 - & you'll see the mess that really happened!
Somebody needs to come to the table & tell us what really happened - I thought this was on the blog or somewhere else back in May or June???
County still hasnt published the latest audit. Commissioners have been mailed a copy in the past but it hasnt happened this year yet. The online audit was found by dilligent citizens constantly checking on line. The audit may have been completed in MAY BUT NOT AVAILABLE ON LINE UNTIL RECENTLY.
It was on-line May, 2009 - almost a year after the fiscal year ended 6-30-8! My pdf copy in the computer has a 5-18-9 entry date
Is it true that the commissioners haven't received copies (6 months after published & 1 & 1/2 years after the year ended)?
Surely there must be a law requiring public notice! This is beyond belief -
the 11-11/8:03 comments appear to be correct, - pretty serious financial manipulation & fraud - should get someone fired.
To Anonymous said...
5:20
I wouldn't have started that thread to begin with. That's all I have to say about that..........f. gump.
Since when was Forrest a female anyhow?
Your're the one quoting Forrest Gump, so you tell me when Forrest became a female.
8:23
You again seem to be exhibiting gender confusion issues. Do you feel threatened by men? I'm a man, and it's too bad if that bothers you.
Funny how she changes from man to woman and back to man again. Still think you are fooling everyone?
Why is there so much anonymous posted on this blog or any other? Are you ashamed for any one to know who you are? If you are, then you should not be on here.
Ah, but the gender confusion continues and is laughable. Think what you want.
to 10:27
Why don't you guys demand that the blogmaster remove the "anonymous" option from this forum? Uh...(clearing my throat), aren't you just as anonymous as all the others? Hahaha.
4:42 Male or a poor excuse for one?
8:21
I don't need your approval as to what kind of man I am. My self-worth is NOT determined by any assessment you might have of me. You need to get past your insecurities.
You're acting like a bully who is spoiling for a fight.
What's you gonna do 1:06 whine or slap 8:21. Be careful that limp wrist might flop back and hit you.
2:39
I'll do neither of the two, not that what I do is any of your business. Get a life!
Without having seen a copy of the audit, it is difficult to respond objectively.
Having said that, this one alone is of MAJOR concern:
3) General Ledger Payroll Liability Accounts Were Not Reconciled With Payroll Reports And Payments
That's pretty basic to reconcile your payroll liabilities on a timely basis.
Two questions,
1) Where can we get a complete copy of the audit?
2) Where can we get a copy 0f the matching budget?
Now a comment,
This thread started as a discussion about the recent audit, and was attacked at the outset by an idiot, and I use that term loosely, and pray that true idiots don't sue me for insulting them. So let's try to get back on track, shall we. Let's review this logically. I am going to ask a few more questions, throw out your answers as they come to you.
1. Who is in charge of the County Government?
2. Who is charge of the county budget?
3. Who is responsible if something goes wrong with the government? I mean ultimately responsible?
4. Who is responsible if something is off with the budget?
I know department heads are in charge of their portion of the budget, but they all have to report to someone. So answer these questions, and then see if these answers match with what Mr. Barrett has been saying. I'm sure we will, and we can hope that this will cause a Silence of the Idiocy. However, I doubt that.
deadman...
Careful sir. Ann will give you another spanking.
Tell me. Is there anything Mrs. Vanzant does that meets with yours or wab's approval? I doubt that too.
All I can say to you is that my vote for Mrs. Vanzant on election day will cancel yours. That is, if she decides to put up with four more years of people like you and wab attacking her at every turn.
Vanzant has already announced (although not publicly) that she is running again. Wants to build that pension and continue to help her buddies.
9:28
Ok, here's your chance to really shine. Why don't you name specifically who her buddies are and how she is going to help them. In addition, please elaborate on what underhanded deeds she is going to do.
Oh, and while you are at it, why not post your name? Just a thought.
4:16 Be glad to, as soon as you post yours. (And not a false one that I cant look up in the phone book).
4:33
Why should I post my name? YOU are the one who wants to make accusations. Go ahead and be brave.
Saturday, November 21, 2009 7:05:00 AM
This thread is about the 2008 Audit, nothing else, could you please keep yourself to that area. Also, I did not say nything against Ms. Vanzant. I did ask some questions though. Do you have a mind to answer them. I would just like to get some information.
deadman....
Look, this IS a free speech forum, right? Therefore I will confine myself to myy opinions and comments just like you do. Ok?
Your charge that I accused you of saying something against Mrs. Vanzant is false. I asked you if there was anything about Mrs. Vanzant that you like?
Sunday, November 22, 2009 8:34:00 AM
This thread is about the 2008 Audit, nothing else, could you please keep yourself to that area. You still did not answer my budget questions.
What I do not understand is why we are even discussing an audit that was from the fall of last year. That should be old news but these confused people keep bringing it up like it is now. Everyone is being given the impression that the 08 audit is the lates audit. Just because the state put it on the website in 09 does not mean it is new and even that was in May. The state is a year behind posting audits. We need to discuss 09 audit but I guess there was not enough wrong on it for WAB to find fault with it. Instead of a positive subject about how the audit has improved last years audit has been posted like it was just finished. Most people do not even realize that the year we are in now is 2010. Why don't we disuss the 09 audit and forget last year's?
deadman...
Nor did you answer my question. Is there anything about Mrs. Vanzant that you like?
As for arguing over the budget and who is right and who is wrong, I don't get into all that. You guys seem to be doing a sufficient job anyway. Besides, if my opinion differed from status quo on this blog, I would be called some name or ridiculed. So much for free speech, huh?
Yeah free speech is correct 6:02. You say how you feel and the rest of us do the same. Sorry you get your tiny feelings hurt when somebody describes your behavior on here. Why don't you be real immature and take your toys and go home..Haha. Sounds like you only support free speech as it applies to you and not the rest of us. You're a real piece of work!
9:43
Now there is a real example of the kettle calling the pot black. I have made the same argument you just made about the manner of some on this blog who get really angry and rude toward those who would disagree with them. We're free to speak our minds on here as long as we agree with you and the "us" you refer to?
And yes, I really am a real piece of work. I take that as a compliment since you didn't call me a name.
Just to clarify it for you tiny brain, the "us" is every individual on this blog posting an opinion. Pot calling the kettle black?? Are you brain-dead?? I don't get your logic..i guess because my intellect won't allow me to stoop that low. Your post is relevant to me how???
Your intellect won't let you stoop that low? How arrogant!
So, according to your definition, the "us" would also include me since I post my opinions as well.
Pot calling the kettle black? No, I believe I said kettle calling the pot black. Can't you see that I was using a little reverse psychology there? And you call me brain dead?
I don't think my post is relevant to you, because you misunderstood it.
There are several highly significant information gaps in the financial statements within the 2008 state audit report. We could say it's the state's fault & nothing can be done about it. The director of school's highly predictable financial manipulation games moved up a notch in 2008 to open contemptible falsification of sales tax revenue... because it makes the numbers look "positive". That same isolated "education" process happens every year. If you think you've seen it all, analyze audit exhibit "I-8" (p. 108 & 109)! It's a classic piece of disinformation! If we add the numbers in the report, there is no flaw. If we consider the significance of detail data presented, the comparisons made, and the sources of the numbers, we'll find the report is fatally flawed by conveying a highly favorable message for highly unfavorable performance! Internal control and management are derailed by summarizing the highly significant property and sales tax revenue into a local tax summary while detailing highly insignificant items that are less than 1% of total revenue! One might say, everyone knows it's phony ..., except, taxpayers are required by law to pay those bills, and they never get a proper and complete accounting of financial information.
The finance director did not create the problems, but has a duty to protect the assets and the integrity of financial reporting. The obligation is to the citizens first and foremost, regardless of the actions of the director of schools or the state. For example, the 2008 sales tax and the stated 2007 sales tax in the 2008 budget were falsified in the 2008 school budget and funding request. It was openly protested in 2008 budget committee meetings, but the roughly $400,000 understatement remained in the final budget, throughout the entire year, remained unchanged in the final May 2008 budget amendment after the school year was over, and appears as a "positive" $691,588 in the summary local revenue collections in the state audit! A highly material related issue was the "after the fact" selective budget amendment that eliminated the prospects of being written up by state auditors, by moving money around but not to actual, and coming up with $500,519 of "positive" variance to the "budget" plan. In the end analysis, that favorable impression is published on the Internet and anyone who reads it, will believe that the school's financial performance was excellent by saving $500,000 vs. their "no increase budget". Bottom line no one knows what really happened from year ending 2007 to 2008 because that is not reported! Real spending increases and asset consumption was about double the inflation rate. Because of the extremely high labor cost content of the school operation, it is unimaginable that employees would not have received at least an inflation based wage adjustment. Read the report & dig into what appears to be too good to be true - There is lots more - none of which has been openly publicized! Puzzle of the day - How do you turn a $108,000 depletion of reserves into a $1.6 million favorable affect on reserves?
Ms. Garner's qualifications or the fact that she has made positive changes are not questioned. The management element requires timely meaningful analytical reporting with full disclosure, whether negative, positive, or neutral. The prime obligation to the citizens is missing. The director of schools budget slipped through again and there is no accounting for highly significant impropriety. If state audit financial analysis is faulted, take exception to it and publish meaningful annual and true operating plan to actual results. Management requires fixing things by removing that which is broken an replacing it with something that is reliable and works.
Impressive post! But do you think Mr. Jackson is out there spending taxpayer money on himself? That's what I believe the taxpayer would want to know. What about state auditors? How can this be? If he's committed fraud or embezzlement, why aren't the police involved?
Again, you apparently have a sound grasp of statistical analysis and accounting, but most people around here (or anywhere else for that matter) are not well educated on those principles.
1124 As far as we know, Jackson hasn't embezzled anything for himself. As far as fraud relative to deception, used to acquire money for his position as director of schools, to the disadvantage of the disillusioned citizens paying taxes; there are near endless examples. As such, it would seem that the Giles County Board of Education, by their approval of the Directors actions, has indeed committed fraud against the taxpayers of said county! As far as extortion being taking money for one purpose and using it for another (personal?) purpose, one might consider the fundamental critical needs to fund busses and teacher pay in an operating plan bloated with bureaucratic nonsense expenses, falsified shortages of revenue, and visions that justify huge withdrawals of reserves ... when, the money seeped through the holes in the money bucket, accounting for the bus money replenishment gets lost in the woodwork, and there was nothing left for the teachers! Of course, the taxpayers could sue the county, who in turn would have raise taxes even more to pay any judgment, so they could pay the lawyers who would love to dispense a good dose of injustice. And, here the taxpayer sits, unemployed and broke, teachers mad as hornets, children getting run over because they have to hitch hike to school, roofs caving in atop those who manage to make it to school, and jesters singing songs of more taxation, as the emperor plays submarine on his computer atop the hill overlooking the peons below, waving a sign that says "we have a plan" & you're in it!
He is skillful & careful to make sure the school board approves any swamp land he can sell. As such, the DA would have to indict the school board, a few council members who get tangled in his web, and half of the state government, especially the BOE. That which would be an endless no win battle for DA, is as simple as a pen and pink slip for the board of education.
One would think, that, with all of the PHDs, MBEs, & BS's in the BOEs & GASB, hither and yon, studying the bare bones no increase operating plan (budget), that a light would go on when real spending jumps from $32,044,024 in 2007 to $34,046,076 in 2008 accompanied by a performance report for that period (budget vs. actual) that says revenue and spending results are $1,120,342 favorable to that budget. And, how in this world did we end up with $1,579,988 "favorable" net results in managing reserve funds when the "reality line" says they raided it and actually reduced reserves by $108,298. You're supposed to "trust and believe" in spite of the fact that there isn't enough money left over to give a measly little inflation based raise to the core necessary employees that make this labor intensive operation work! What is a no increase budget??? It was for some!
Home work is being able answer the question, tomorrow, "what should we do?"
What difference does it make if the guy is a crook for hisself or for someone else ain't a crook a crook? \
There seems to be a lot of money missing and then mysteriously showing up later.
1017 Nothing like good old common sense!
Too bad you are not on the school board. Higher education has lowered their standards to elevate their appearance. They have no time or tolerance for those who raise their standards, lower their egos, and elevate their productivity & contribution to mankind - (but that's common sense, isn,t it?)
From it's inception under the federal government, after being taken from the churches, education has had the communist goal of teaching just enough to make people think they're getting somewhere but not enough to actually develop their thinking which would lead to great individual independence and responsibility. Basically it comes down to memorization leads to bondage while individual thinking leads to freedom. It was the individual thinkers who developed this nation not the educated village cultist. Common sense, sadly has about been educated out of people.
Unbelievable, two people with common sense and the ability to save this county and maybe even this country!
What could be worse than an educated slick crook running an education system? But, we don't have that problem, right?
Imagine, an education system dedicated to spending money by any means, with zero thought going to innovation, cost cutting, and developing a workforce that freely makes decisions with gusto for finding better ways to do things!
I've worked with some of some of the top executives in the country & almost everyone of them were honest, good, & ready to make a right decision. Not so anymore? Anyone who lied disappeared without much adoo. (promotion) If a person couldn't make a decision, but was a good person, they were placed a position that didn't require decisions or innovation. (move to upper management?) Have things changed?
I recall a young financial controller with a handicapped child & huge responsibilities, put in a position of making things look good for a raise & promotion. He asked for advise & was told if he had integrity and tallent when temptation calls, he'd have neither if he falls. He appeased, and a year or so later the a real good operation ran out of money, couldn't meet payroll, and a couple thousand people who needed jobs and income went home, because the good looking operation really wasn't good, because good workers were getting bad information and bad management direction, including the president who wanted to make things look good & positive.
If the president had been held accountable, the little old operation would still be making stuff. If the controller had held his feet to the fire with knowledge & wisdom, maybe the president would have turned things around, if not, the controller would have been fired & he could have qualified for a real job.
Sounds familiar, doesn't it.
There's no feeling like being a bigger & meaner SOB than the SOB you fire who really needed it.
Let's sumarize it one more time!
By the end of June, 2008, the Director of education with the assistance of the board of education, without a tax increase, managed to rake in $692,000 more local tax revenue than they knew was possible when they ammended their financial operating plan in mid May 2008! That's a phenominal accomplishment of incredible tallent & wisdom that must be shared with everyone. Modesty is not a good excuse - I want to know what I can do to get my sorry cash strapped ass improved! Is it patented & can't be shared? Would the director show us what to do if we paid him more money or extended his contract? Is it possible we could get a few teeny weeny suggestions if the finance director sat down with him & the board of education & begged to learn how it's done?
I've got an idea! Why not pick a sunny saturday & have a Jackson day celebration - have all the cowboys bring their horses & all the farmers bring their sheep - get a big podium on the square - block off the streets - get a big gold plated plastic trophy & have the cowboys run the sheep around square while Miss Twiddles gives the trophy to Jackson - recon he's tell us then?
You're wrong - It's a pronoun entanglement problem of he, she, it - on them.
Everyone needs to keep in mind that Mrs. Garner had nothing to do with the school books until May of 2008. The budget and the working of the books did not move to her control until then. The 2009 budget and etc have been the first to be in her hands. You cannot judge prior years and blame them on her. Therefore the 2009 audit is her first for the BOE. I do not remember if the rest of the county was under her control during the entire 2008 year but I believe it was. We are under a new Finance Director so check the new audit and the year end figures for 2009 to see if things have improved and get over what happened before. We can change what is not what was.
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