The Last State Audit Of Giles County Released To The Public
There seems to be some great discomfort over the latest State Audit that was done and released by the state. The last State Audit that was released covers the period of 1 July 2007 - 30 June 2008. The state refers to this as the 2008 Audit and was released and posted on the State Comptroller's Website a few weeks ago. The link to that audit is http://www.comptroller1.state.tn.us/RA_CA/CountyAudits.asp?C=028.
Recently, after I posted the findings of this audit, much denial has been expressed by some that this is not the latest audit. It is the latest audit released by the state for public exposure. A letter was sent to Commissioners, by the County Executive, denying this was the latest audit and instead of explaining or discussing the deficiencies simply dismissed them. The questions raised by this audit still remain unanswered.
1) Page 56 item D - Contingent Liabilities: The county is involved in several pending lawsuits. The County attorney has not responded to our requests to provide estimates of the potential claims not covered by insurance.
2) Page 172 Finding 08.01 OFFICE OF FINANCIAL DIRECTOR Expenditures exceeded appropriations approved by the County Commission in the following funds' major appropriations categories: County Buildings 55,761.00; County Coroner/Medical Examiner $6,044.00; Waste Pick-up $6,862.00.
3) Page 173 Finding 08.02 Competitive bids were not solicited for the purchase of occupational injury insurance for the offices of County Executive and Highway Commissioner. The County Financial Management System of 1981 requires purchases exceeding $10,000.00 to be competitively bid.
4) Page 173 Finding 08.03 OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLS Expenditures exceeded appropriations approved by the County Commission in the following funds' major appropriation categories (the legal level of control): General Purpose School, Attendance- $778.00; Health Services $4,022.00; Other Student Support $381.00; Vocational Education Program- $3,543.00; Office of the Principal- $2,896.00; Federal Projects Instruction Vocational Education Program- $1,435.00; Support Services Vocational Education Program- $1,367.00; Central Cafeteria Food Service- $46,007.00.
5) Page 174 Finding 08.04 item A - 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. Using bid specifications that apply only to local vendors violates the intent of Section 49-2-203 Tennessee Code Annotated.
6) Page 174 Finding 08.04 item B - Competitive Bids were solicited through public advertisement for playground equipment. However, the bid specifications were acquired from a manufacturer of playground equipment. The Board of Education received and accepted one bid totaling $49,877.00 from a subsidiary of the manufacturer. Using bid specifications that apply only to a particular brand or item of equipment violates the intent of Section 49-2-203 TCA.
7) Page 174 Finding 08.05 General ledger payroll liability accounts were not reconciled with payroll reports and payments. Sound business practices dictate that payroll liability accounts be reconciled with payroll reports and payments monthly.
The question now is not whether this is the latest released audit but why these deficiencies have not been addressed in any public meeting or with the commissioners individually. To date no commissioner has acknowledged having any discussion in any committee meeting of this audit or its findings. Allen Barrett
Recently, after I posted the findings of this audit, much denial has been expressed by some that this is not the latest audit. It is the latest audit released by the state for public exposure. A letter was sent to Commissioners, by the County Executive, denying this was the latest audit and instead of explaining or discussing the deficiencies simply dismissed them. The questions raised by this audit still remain unanswered.
1) Page 56 item D - Contingent Liabilities: The county is involved in several pending lawsuits. The County attorney has not responded to our requests to provide estimates of the potential claims not covered by insurance.
2) Page 172 Finding 08.01 OFFICE OF FINANCIAL DIRECTOR Expenditures exceeded appropriations approved by the County Commission in the following funds' major appropriations categories: County Buildings 55,761.00; County Coroner/Medical Examiner $6,044.00; Waste Pick-up $6,862.00.
3) Page 173 Finding 08.02 Competitive bids were not solicited for the purchase of occupational injury insurance for the offices of County Executive and Highway Commissioner. The County Financial Management System of 1981 requires purchases exceeding $10,000.00 to be competitively bid.
4) Page 173 Finding 08.03 OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLS Expenditures exceeded appropriations approved by the County Commission in the following funds' major appropriation categories (the legal level of control): General Purpose School, Attendance- $778.00; Health Services $4,022.00; Other Student Support $381.00; Vocational Education Program- $3,543.00; Office of the Principal- $2,896.00; Federal Projects Instruction Vocational Education Program- $1,435.00; Support Services Vocational Education Program- $1,367.00; Central Cafeteria Food Service- $46,007.00.
5) Page 174 Finding 08.04 item A - 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. Using bid specifications that apply only to local vendors violates the intent of Section 49-2-203 Tennessee Code Annotated.
6) Page 174 Finding 08.04 item B - Competitive Bids were solicited through public advertisement for playground equipment. However, the bid specifications were acquired from a manufacturer of playground equipment. The Board of Education received and accepted one bid totaling $49,877.00 from a subsidiary of the manufacturer. Using bid specifications that apply only to a particular brand or item of equipment violates the intent of Section 49-2-203 TCA.
7) Page 174 Finding 08.05 General ledger payroll liability accounts were not reconciled with payroll reports and payments. Sound business practices dictate that payroll liability accounts be reconciled with payroll reports and payments monthly.
The question now is not whether this is the latest released audit but why these deficiencies have not been addressed in any public meeting or with the commissioners individually. To date no commissioner has acknowledged having any discussion in any committee meeting of this audit or its findings. Allen Barrett
posted by Allen Barrett | 10:11 AM
164 Comments:
Another Mrs. Vanzant witch hunt I see.
The word idiot doesn't begin to describe you. If that is all you can say "another Mrs. Vanzant witch hunt". Auditors, hired to audit the books of Giles County - the books YOUR tax dollars prop up, found DEFICIENCIES. Their audit report would hardly be a "witch hunt". Except in this case the county mayor is trying to act like no deficiencies were found. Trying to say this is all rumor. If you have eyes in your head you can read it yourself. Instead of talking witch hunt mess wouldn't it be more important to you to ask WHY? WHY does the county mayor NOT want to admit the deficiencies and address them?
Look, if Mrs. Vanzant has broken the law then please enlighten me as to why she hasn't been brought up on charges? Otherwise, why is she continually being attacked? Why? Why?
Calling names just ebcause someone begs to disagree with you is tacky!
So Mr. Barrett instead of admitting you were wrong even though you were repeatedly told that you were not talking about the same audit that was put in the paper you just dance around the subject. You will not admit that you accused someone of putting untruths in the paper. The system has an audit done this time of year, they have a certain amount of time to answer those finding and then they are sent to the state who puts them online almost a year after the books close. It happen every year this same way. You should be familiar with the way things are done before you go and say that things are told to the paper in error. I really don't believe the commission has to be has to have these things discussed with them. You were told to compare apples to apples and you ignored that.
What in the world did Mr. Barrett say incorrectly? Loretta Garner did state in the newspaper that two deficiences had been found and they were in the ambulance dept. Ambulance dept. was not written up. Gasrner was obviously trying to take the heat away from herself and make someone else look bad.
I stand 100% behind what I have posted that's why you see my name on it instead of anonymous. This is the latest audit, just as I have continued to claim, that has been released to the public. The commissioners were told that they would be given copies of this audit and have not been given them. These deficiencies are part of County business and as such either the County Commission needs to know about and discuss means by which they can be corrected or else what is the need for a County Commission? Allen Barrett
To:11/16/09 1:17 p.m. Could you please clarify where in the topic that one could infer that a witch hunt of Ms Vanzant is happening? I truly don't understand and I would very much like to! The biggest surprise I read was that of the various deficiencies in the school system's budget vs expenditures was the item regarding the food service. Of course all areas should be reconciled, by when one looks at the "relatively" small dollar figures in various areas and the dollar amt in the food service budget, there is a huge discrepancy if I am reading correctly.
I also have a suggestion which I would hope citizens would take serious. I would respectfully suggest that when one private citizen chooses to comment on the topic, let's try to do that and only that. If for example I disagree with citizen a, I truly don't have to state that, I could simply post my opinion on the expressed issue. Anybody willing to take the "high road" with me? Not a comment of a personal nature directed at any poster, just gonna state my opinion and leave it at that. I believe most are intelligent enough to read what is written and and will know if I agree or disagree with them. It is such a simple direct plan, it just might work, if people are really concerned about our community and not interested in sounding clever.
Sincerely,
Ann Allen
We need to clarify which audit we are talking about. Normally, the 2009 audit would be completed about this time of year & that would be for the year beginning 7-1-8 and ending on 6-30-9 (last June)
If the Garner comments were about the 2009 audit (2008/9) they would be different from the 2008 audit (7/2007-6/2008). The 2008 audit was released in May, 2009, not a couple of weeks ago.
Ann..
May I direct your attention to the last two sentences of the first paragraph of the initial thread posting? What about the entire last paragraph? Do these statements not suggest dishonesty and incompetence? In my opinion, they certainly are not positive or complimentary of Mrs. Vanzant.
9:34 I have read and reread the initial post by Mr. Barrett and did not notice anything that was pointed directly or indirectly at MS. Vanzant. If the comments suggested dishonesty and incompetence, and you immediately thought of MZ. Vanzant, then doesn't the problem lie then with you, and not everyone else? We all started thinking about the budget and what can be done to reconcile it, not about hunting down one person. It appears that much of what is wrong with the audit is attributed to many people, not just one. However, since Ms. Vanzant is the County Executive, doesn't the ultimate responsibility fall to her? Please let me know if I have this correct or not. Or am I also just starting a witch hunt? No one said she had broken the law, only that there were deficiencies reported by the Audit.
Ms. Allen, You are so correct in what you say, but sometimes it is hard to here how evil we are and what hatemongerers we are because we look, listen and read, we want to make our county a better place. I will try to stay on topic, but sometimes my thoughts get the better of me.
I am sorry for my typo, I meant hear how evil, not here how evil.
howard..
Of course you're right and I'm wrong. Why on earth would I think there was any reference to dishonesty and incompetency on Mrs. Vanzant's part? It just seemed so evident to me how those seed were sown in a very clever and subtle way. And then, due to my apparent misinterpretation, I'm now demonized as a hate-monger. A double whammy?
Pardon the oversight. My post (5:25) was directed to deadman and not to howard.
I have not seen the latest audit but that is the one that was mentioned in the paper by Garner or Van Zant. You people have implied that they are lying about the audit. They are not. Remember this for next year, the audit for the yeat that just closed is done in the late summer or early fall after the books close on June 30th. Therefore, the audit mentioned in the paper is for 2009 books. They will not post this for the public until next spring. You people are not talking about the same audit. It is not given out because they have a chance to answer the charges or explain. The auditors don't ask questions when they audit they just ask for reports and if what they want is not in plain sight they write it up. Some of that can be proved wrong and they get a chance to do so before it is released for public view. I am retired from the government and know how it works. You people are crucifying these people and Barrett is leading the crowd in error.
Whichever year Garner was referring to when she made the statement to the paper does not make sense anyway since HER department has the responsibility of what she refrred to and being deficiencies, and not the ambulance service.
I never claimed the audit I have written about was the 2009 audit. I have tried to clear up this misconception in more than one post. What I have continually referred to is the latest audit that was released to the public, that covers the time period of 1 July 2008 - 30 June 2009. My comments about the stated deficiencies within the Ambulance Service did not come from things that were in the paper but were stated in a budget meeting several months ago.
This whole thing about which audit is which is nothing less than a diversion to take the focus off the problems revealed in the audit.
The question is, regardless of what year the audit covers, are these problems that should be addressed by those in charge or should they simply be ignored?
If they should be addressed why then haven't they been? These are issues that the Commissioners should have been involved in, they are the legislative body of the county yet were not even officially made aware of the situation. These deficiencies involve a great deal of money and violations of state regulations not to mention the appearance of favoritism in letting bids and bid rigging.
Should the Commissioners be made aware of just how many lawsuits are outstanding against the county and what the potential liability is for the county, of course they should.
It's really a very simple equation the more money that is spent the more that is needed, decrease the spending and you decrease the need to raise more and more money each year. Taxes go up not because those in charge want to increase them but because those in charge will not control the spending. Allen Barrett
breaking news
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE CONTROLLER OF THE TREASURY
Audit will be released on Nov. 19,2009.
Audit Highlights
Office of county executive and director of Finance.
Accounting deficiencies were noted in the operation of the ambulance service.
Appropriations exceeded estimated available funds.
Office of Trustee
The office did not review software audit log.
Other finding.
Duties were not segregated adequately amoung the officials and employees in the offices of clerk and master and register.
5:25AM
Once again you have missed the reality of what was said, never once were you referred to as a hatemonger. I said "but sometimes it is hard to hear how evil we are and what hatemongerers we are because we look, listen and read". If you are deomized, it is a label you have placed on yourself, not I. You however refer to others as hatemongers, and then expect people not to defend themselves. Your bias is as predictable as your petty diatribes. As I said, please just help solve the problems that Giles County has, and if you disagree that we have problems, then you need to quit smoking whatever you are smoking and come back to reality. By the way, I am not saying you actually smoke anything, I am just using that as an allusion to the fact that your mind is clouded.
deadman..
I never said i was directly called a hate-monger or that I have been demonized as such. It's been so clearly implied by people like you who apparently think you know it all and who refuse to tolerate opinions that differ from your own.
By the way, who denied that we have problems here in Giles County? Those may have been your words, but they certainly weren't mine. And no, I don't smoke.
It occurs to me that you guys are always going to have the last word, so go ahead. But when you smart off, I WILL offer rebuttal.
5:09
Allow me to say this, " I'm now demonized as a hate-monger" these were your words from 11/17/09 5:25AM. You did say it. You may now have the last word.
Not a problem my friend. I never said I was demonized as a hate-monger. Put simply, that means I was not directly called a hate-monger. Why all the hair splitting over semantics? Are you trying to play "Gotcha" with me?
What means one thing to you might mean something very different to someone else. And you know that. I merely stated MY OPINION. It is apparent that, on this blog, you are demonized and called names...such as hate-monger...if you oppose something stated by those "in the know" about everything.
This may or may not be my last word. If you choose to insult me, I'll be right back. Ok, your turn.
This is Mr. Barrett's quote, "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." Now the audit that was in the paper was the 2009 audit. He is implying that they were lying about the audit when he keeps quoting the 2008 audit. You folks keeps listening to him if you want to but he is saying thing to make it sound like other folks are hiding things and they are not. He won't admit that he said anything wrong. He is quoting the 2008 audit correctly but implying that the County Mayor and Finance Director are hiding something when they are not talking about the same audits. Can you people not see that he has no idea what he is talking about and will never admit he is wrong even when it is in black and white in his own words.
Just ignore her, maybe she will go away!
6:40 you are the one missing something. there is no 2009 audit yet. you don't audit the year you are in - the current year. the current audit is the 2008 one. set your alarm clock and WAKE UP!
3:31 re your noted Press Release
You quote "appropriations exceeded estimated available funds" for the
Ambulance Service. Now will someone please tell me how Ms Garner/County Executive/ Ambulance Service found an extra $40,000 left over from the last budget year and this money will be applied to the building of the North End ambulance station? In addition, I have always been told each county dept. starts off the new year with a zero balance so how can they use money carried over from the previously closed out year?
When the aduitors finally find this (if they do) when they do the 2009 audit late next year the building will have already been built.
11-18-9 7:55 The audits are for the fiscal year which ends June 30 of any given year, not a calendar year. The last completed year was the period of 7-1-8 through 6-30-9. It ended five months ago, and no one knows the results! Any business that doesn't know what happened five months after the fact would be gone in a heart beat! The government lives in another world where there is zero accountability, an unquenchable thirst for more taxpayer money, and a relative license to steal every time they run out of money. It will remain that way until the citizens change it!
The 2007/2008 fiscal year ending in 2008 is WAB'S subject & it appears that he is saying the results have not been published & reviewed with our commissioners! That audit was published by the state about 5-18-9, almost 11 months after the year had ended! If, on 11-18-9 (6 more months later) the results have not been reviewed with plans to eliminate the bad stuff (a year and a half late) - SOMEBODY NEEDS TO BE GONE! The state audit for fiscal year 2009 (7/2008-6/30/2009) is due out NOW, not next June, & we should have enough confidence in out records to publish results & inform the citizens and the council of annual results a month after closing (Aug., 2009)! If someone is holding back results because they don't want to properly inform the governing body (the council) and the public, they should be immediately removed from office! It doesn't have to be criminal. We don't have to tolerate incompetence or corruption!
If we have honest error, we must fix it & move on. If we have honest error, but dishonest response to fix it, then move the liar on out, fix the problem, and do better next time with someone new who isn't afraid to belly up to reality.
One thing is for sure - a liar will destroy all good things it touches, as long as it's tolerated.
Most of our county departments try to do a good job and have earned the respect of the citizens. Education and a small group of connivers continue to be a thorn in the side of an otherwise excellent government.
First of all 7:55 you are the one missing something. This is the year 2010 for the county not 2009. That is the point I keep trying to make. The paper quoted the 2009 audit.
10:18 The state is does the audit. They don't immiately come in and start the audit. They have other counties to do also. The audit is probably started in August but they work for a couple of months doing the audit.
The audit that was in the paper which had the findings for the Ambulance Service was the 2009 audit. The County Mayor and Finance Director were quoting that audit.
Apparently the Finance Audit corrected all the mistakes that were made in the 2008 audit and they have moved on. Why don't you.
6:40
I don't think it lies within the man to admit he's wrong about anything. He knows he's wrong about that as he has been wrong about other things. And I'm absolutely astounded that neither he nor his followers can't see any arrogance in that.
4:49 The current budget year is considered by the state and county as 2009-2010. For audit purposes it will be considered the "2009 audit" and should begin being audited anytime after August of next year. By the end of next year the 2009 audit should be on line for the public. Year end closing for the county budget usually doesnt happen until late July of each year.
4:49 my comments were not about 2009 - if it's relatively clean, that's very good.
The same old problem is the near zero accountability level placed on the dept. of education by the state. If the recordkeeping is under control, then it's time to put some financial management tools in place that will roll back the spending spree in the DOE. To WAB's point, 2008 was a financial reporting disaster year (spending control) - not necessarily the finance director's fault - her plate was more than full.
A major issue is the practice of measuring year end results to a budget that's been amended after the school year has ended! It's worse than a farce - deception at its worst! Business measures year to year and includes trends. If you apply that to education, you'll find runaway spending, waste, and counterproductive use of resources. When spending is several multiples (times) the inflation rate, with negative growth, manipulated performance improvement charts, and the core function (teaching) mad as hornets because they haven't received a raise - because their money went to BS, you know it's out of control & will only get worse. Stopping the increase of waste isn't enough - we have to peel back the waste that has been built in the education structure! No one has ever learned anything useful in an environment of waste!
If you can read the budget reports in the 2008 Audit, the issue is as simple as looking at the big favorability numbers & asking how there can be three moons in the sky when it's cloudy & raining! Well, if you give a bureaucrat a license to spend money you don't have (reserves) to make his ends meet, you will find that all of the money will be wasted on junk (new gophers & more than enough cheeze for the colony) and none will be left for the stuff that really matters (core teacher pay), of course ... when the funds dry up.
That's what's called opportunity for lot's of salutes & praise. Start fixing it & you'll be overrun with thank-you's. Say it's OK & do nothing & you can expect a foot up you rear end from lots of people who think it's time for change.
649 The 2009-2010 year end financial results and audit will be identified as for "the year ending June 30, 2010", (not 2009)
0618
I have to give you a second chance to redeem yourself and then again have the last word. You said "I never said I was demonized as a hate-monger." Tha is a quote from your post. This also is a quote from an earlier post "howard..
Of course you're right and I'm wrong. Why on earth would I think there was any reference to dishonesty and incompetency on Mrs. Vanzant's part? It just seemed so evident to me how those seed were sown in a very clever and subtle way. And then, due to my apparent misinterpretation, I'm now demonized as a hate-monger. A double whammy?" You did say you were demonized as a hatemonger. What I was saying was was not semantics, it was fact. You need to keep track of what you say. You are so quick to point out the flaws in what others say, you really need to keep it closer to home first. Sorry about that, you can have the last word now, neighbor.
Sorry about the 2. It's still me, just a typo.
deadman...
Think whatever you want to. I stand by every single word I have said.
Should I acxtually call you a cheerleader for the one you seem to worship or simply describe your behavior as cheerleading? Yes, it's semantics. But again, think what you will.
Ok, your turn to cast your pearls before swine...neighbor.
The 08 audit had several findings. The school system did not go into the Finance Office until the spring of 08 so they did not have very much control over the school accounting. There were several findings for that year. The Finance Office has had all offices in there office for the 09 year and they results is that they only had a couple of findings. Forget the 08 audit is it long over. I believe the results were in the paper last fall for those books. Concentrate on the 09 which were just released and in the paper and future books. Admit that things have improved since the 08 audit that is quoted here. We are now on the 2010 fiscical year.
Sure is lonely on the "high road." One can't help but wonder what the priorities are of most-expressing an opinion on the issues or insulting another's opinion. I may be living in fantasy land, but I really think that if you express your opinion about an ISSUE, others will probably be able to pick up on the fact that they are disagreeing with you. The insults are a bit redundant, unless of course your true motive is simply to insult and the issues of the county are secondary to your "clever" barbs. People discuss what matters to them the most-issues, or insults; Pretty cut and dried.
Ann Allen
deadman...
I think Ann Allen just gave you a good raking over the coals.
Things are better because of financial management. However, extreme 2008 reporting problems remain unanswered! Start with pages 208 and 209 of the 2008 audit report and see if you can't find several million dollars of absolute impropiety! The public has a right and obligation to discuss and write about it. Yes, most of reporting problem is due to the state not paying attention to the results they publish, but the buck stops with county inaction.
The financial management department has an obligation to report and recommend to both the council and the public. It's not a pleasant job, but no one said it would be.
donm
Ms Allen,
You are correct, I have let my tongue run away with me. I will try in the future to stay on task, and discuss the thread.
I read the post:
Breaking News
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 3:31:00 PM
and thought good Janet must be telling us but she didn't sign it and no one has mention that post.
Do I just ignore it as false?
Nov 20 10:09 I am not sure where you think 08 audit should be answered. The finance audit did have to answer to the state. The new audit is obviously much better if there were only two findinds on it. I would say that the 08 findings have been answered successfully since they were not on the new audit. Great job Finance Office.
I just went to the site that WAB quoted. The latest audit is not 08 but 09. The findings were with the ambulance service. Apparently Mr. Barrett was wrong after all and making a stir over nothing. Why was Barrett quoting the audit for the year before? He is trying to stir trouble. He will never admit to being wrong. I really do not believe the state released two years of audits at a time so why did he keep bringing up the 08 audit when he should be discussing 09. Could it be because it was a good audit and he does not want to discuss anything that was done right only point out the bad. How about saying congratulations for a chance Mr. Barrett.
On November 18, I looked at the site mentioned. "It was the 2008" audit.
This audit could of been up for months, I don't know, only 2008 was up then. I looked today and 2009 is up.
I wish I had looked when the thread "Breaking News" was posted and you all never mentioned that post, why?
I don’t know why I try to explain anything to one so dead set against understanding anything. At the time I posted information from the 2008 audit it was the latest audit that the state had released to the public. Now with the release of the 2009 audit the 2008 is no longer the latest audit, what could be so complicated about that. In June 1965 the latest model Ford that you could buy was a 1965 model but in October of 1965 you could buy a 1966 model which had become the latest model released to the public.
You state, “Apparently Mr. Barrett was wrong after all and making a stir over nothing. Why was Barrett quoting the audit for the year before?” If you will find someone to read what I wrote they can explain to you that I never claimed the audit I quoted from was the latest audit that had been completed only the last one that had been released to the public. The question is whether I stirred up something over nothing or not. My belief is that because these findings of the audit had not been discussed publicly nor had the Commissioners been made aware of the findings and that the findings were of such a sever nature they should have been discussed and solutions found within the legislative body of the county. Millions of dollars were involved and as yet there has not been any explanation as to why budgets were exceeded without knowledge of the legislative body, why insurance contracts were illegally directed to specific agents or playground equipment was illegally purchased from the people who wrote the specifications for the equipment. The other major issue was about the number of outstanding lawsuits against the county; this has continued to go unanswered by the county attorney and is again reflected in the newest audit.
I do commend the Financial Management team and congratulate them for a better audit, one of the reasons I worked hard to help get the Financial Management Act implemented in Giles County was to ensure the same violations were not recorded year after year by the state auditors. I believe you were strongly opposed to the adoption of the Financial Management Act.
Now for the matter of positive posting, there have been a number of positive threads that I have posted along with a number of positive posts that I have made, each have been met with the same negative and false criticisms from you. One of the latest was the thread giving opportunity to express appreciation to our County Emergency Responders, even that you tried to turn into a personal criticism of me. You have made it clear that because I don’t fit your image of a minister I can’t really be one, that because I refuse to accept wrong doing and refer to it as what it is, in your opinion I’m a vicious hater, because I don’t agree with you and present evidence to support my opinions you claim I’m arrogant and refuse to ever admit being wrong. You sir are so full of yourself that you can not see the hypocrisy oozing from every pore of your mean-spirited, small minded existence, and yes, I have and am praying for you.
Allen Barrett
wab...
I'm not the one who made the post you are referring to, but I am one (another person) who takes you to task on a fairly consistent basis. And you would refuse to accept any wrongdoing on your part, regardless of what happened. It's apparently your nature.
My mean-soirited, small-minded existence? Surely, you jest. I simply offer opposing views and its worth the effort in spite of your calling me names.
Mr. Barrett, I am the one who posted at 6:24 this morning. Your heading was "The Last State Audit Of Giles County Released To The Public". Now to me that says the LAST STATE AUDIT which would be 09. The LAST STATE AUDIT was in the paper before you put this in this blog so would that not imply that there was a falsehood in the paper since they did not match, in fact I think you made note of such.
Second, I was not against the Finanacial Management and have no idea where you got that idea.
Third, I have not mentioned you as a minister.
I have on the other hand accused you of being wrong and never admitting it just twisting words around to make it sound like you meant something else. The quote above is yours and it is not right. THe last audit released to the public was 09. A minister is human and can be wrong and still be a man of God.
And by the way and am not a man either. You really should know what you are talking about before you spout things.
I do pray every day but I appreciate anyone who prays for me also. Thanks. I do not know where you get the idea that I am mean spirited. I have never called you names and really consider it part of my Christianity to avoid such things. I do not know you and you do not know me so please don't say things about me that you do not know. I was taught from the time I could talk not to call people names, maybe your mother didn't teach you that. I don't believe the Bible teaches that either but since you are a minister I hope that you know the Bible better than I because I have never claimed to be an expert even though I have read it from cover to cover in the last year. GOD BLESS YOU, MR. BARRETT.
Gee, I would never have suspected that you and the one I addressed were not one and the same especially since you were so quick to apply the statement about being mean-spirited and small minded to yourself. Was I speaking to you or did your conscience simply get the best of you for a moment?
I can show you a number of times on this blog where I have apologized for being wrong and have stated several times that I have no monopoly on being right. I put my name on my posts just so when there may be a dispute I am easily identified and can respond to the comment, for me it's simply a matter of taking responsibility for myself.
Anyone can make a mistake or be wrong on a matter. What I have asked you to do, over and over, is simply show an example of where I was wrong and give the proof, other that your feelings. Here's the thing, prove me wrong about a thing and I will certainly accept the responsibility for my part, again my name is on my posts.
As for taking me to task, your imagination is as over active as your inability to see the truth of your own shortcomings. Allen Barrett
To the anonymous 24 Nov. 6:24am and 5:28pm poster.
It's very obvious, based on your 5:28 post, that I mistook you for the obnoxious professional criticizer that has called me vicious names and accused me of many untrue behaviors and attitudes. To you I apologize and will try to be more sensitive in the future when addressing so many different "anonymous" posters.
Now, with a more clear understanding that you are not the person I thought you were I still must state without exception that the audit I referred to was the latest released to the public at the time I referred to it. That the deficiencies noted were serious and have not yet been explained or discussed in a public forum with the Commissioners. So the first two paragraphs of my comment I stand by while apologizing for the last paragraph.
By the way my Granny taught me to be kind and generous to everyone when possible but that some folks just will not allow you to be nice to them. Those people are to treated the same as they treat.
In the future I would suggest you use a specific name to identify yourself whether it is your actual name or not is not as important as that you are able to be distinguished from other anonymous posters. Allen Barrett
What's the problem with you stupid people can't you understand anything.
Barrett said what he was talking about why can't you understand that what he said has nothing to do with the later audit.
I think 6:24, 3:31 and 5:28 are the same person they write like they share the same brain. I could be wrong but I doubt it to much stupid for there to be a separation of the defected brain cells.
I can answer your question, "Gravy" from way out here on the high road; like I stated before, apparently people for the most part do not care about issues as much as they care about bashing others. People post on this blog what is important to them, that's what is was created for. Obviously they do not care about the issues, they never mention them at all. Some are so arrogant that they feel they have a right to take a private citizen "to task". Not sure where they get the idea that only some can have opinions but others can't, but right or wrong, at least one person who posts on the issues is easily identifiable and therefore could be contacted privately if one is offended by his words which is what the BIBLE teaches. I am confused why so many self righteous folks think its okay to go after someone for discussing civic affairs, when all they seem to do is discuss ONE citizen. Looking back over their previous posts, I find few if any references to the initial thread posting, just the "clever" digs at someone who does try to find out what going on. Issues are irrelevant to them, IF you go by their comments. They should start their own blog and bash away at their favorite topic. Apparently wab is the only thing they have an opinion on.
Ann Allen
wab...
You MISTOOK? Does that mean that you were actually wrong about something for the first time in your life? This is an historical event.
By the way, what vicious names have I called you? Remember, you seem to be the professional when it comes to that. All I've ever done is described your behavior and pleaded with you to stop. My problem with you goes back a long way to the times on this blog when you were talking down to people and calling them names when they disagreed with you. That's what got my attention, so don't take it personally.
I was not just imagining things when I saw some of the things you said to and about others.
to ann...
Don't you think "bashing others" in a public forum is an issue? I do. Look, what's good for the goose is good for the gander. If a few people in this county think they can get on here and bash those they dislike, please tell me why I, as a private citizen, can't call them to the carpet for that? And then you talk about arrogance!
623 All you have are opinions - no facts. Moral relevancy creates complete confusion, which is the only way a complete idiot can function. For example, if a person is a habitual liar and is called a habitual liar, you are offended & demand people treat them with the respect they do not deserve. If fellow citizens don't communicate that fact, then innocent people will be mislead and everyone will be harmed, which by its very nature offends you.
In the simplest of terms, if we see you, we yell "snake". Those with a brain will grab a stick and be wary. Those who block their ears will get curious, get too close, & of course, get bit! Some who got bit are a bit too stupid to realize they've been had.
8:09
Ok, so I have my opinions. And my opinion of you is that when someone like me says something you don't like, you call him or her an idiot. How's that for moral relevancy? My, but you seem such an angry person. Is everyone you don't approve of somehow an idiot, a liar, a crook, or worse?
Good grief 6:23 I never expected you to admit that you were the "obnoxious professional criticizer" that WAB wrote to but there you are big as an elephant on a flea.
I'm glad to see you using quotes from WAB, "All I've ever done is described your behavior", wonder why you don't give him credit for that statement. Being new to this blog I spent a good deal of time reading the old threads and posts and while many were incredibly humorous many more were very serious and to the point. Three things about those old post that were consistent, 1) WAB and a few others have enough confidence and commitment to what they say that they put their names on what they write. Now you might ask why I write under a nom de plume, for 6:23 that means pen name or false name, I'm not as responsible as WAB nor as cowardly as 6:23. 2)WAB has posted some of the most revealing information this county has ever seen, much of it was only spoken about behind closed doors for fear of retribution. This has caused those who do wrong to cringe when this blog is even mentioned in their presence, I know because I have watched many of them. It's no wonder that Larry Briton referred to WAB as a political "watch dog" and "the politicians of Giles County worse nightmare". I understand WAB ran for Commissioner considering what he's done as a private citizen I can only imagine what changes for good would have been made had he been elected. People want openness and honesty just not too much. 3) Every thread, as Sen. Ernest Hollings would say, "I saaaay eeeevr thread", that has been posted dealing with issues has been hijacked by 6:23 or someone very much like him and turned into a personal criticism of those trying to stay on subject. 6:23, unlike WAB who has turned the other cheek more than responding to you, had I been called some of the things you have called him, not his behavior, I would find your IP and hunt you down and beat the stink out of you with my crutch.
greasy...
Wab is the one who coined the term "describing your behavior". He convenioently excused his calling people names by saying he was merely describing their behavior. So, I just use his phraseology for the sake of clarity.
Please tell me what names I have called him? I really can't wait for your response to that. Now, as for your statement that you would hunt me down and beat me with your crutch, be sure to bring your lunch. Threatening is not nice, you know.
821 I'm sorry - didn't know you could read Intellectually gifted? no - too many letters. Dillusional - still to big a word. Stupid? politically bad.
Dummy - still bad & too long. How about "nuts" - it's a nice 4 letter word
7:57
You are so bitter and yet so childish in your behavior. Hook, line, and sinker syndrome has the best of you. The symptoms are obvious: hatred for select individuals who are somehow perceived as inferior, jealousies and envy, belittling, name-calling, arrogance, and the view that you are somehow smarter than most everyone else. Oh yeah, you have the syndrome, and it is contagious.
I thought he was a wabhound rather than a watch dog.
625 you aren't worth a second of hate. why don't you grab a roll of toilet paper, jump in, & flush yourself?
Mr. Barrett, has the commission asked for the audit to be discussed? I do not recall hearing where they wanted it discussed and the Finance office refused to discussit with them. I know that the auditors discuss the findings with the heads of the departments and that the county has to answer to the state for it I have never heard it discussed in a commission meeting. Is this something new?
1:11
I think I know what to prescribe for Hook, Line, and Sinker Syndrome. Are you listening? Here it is. Start thinking for yourself. A little bird told me that a lot of people around Giles County are doing just that and are slowly recovering. They no longer see all the "corruption" they were told exists in local government. The mind begins to clear up in just a matter of a few days. Why don't you try it? What have you got to lose? Some positive side effects could be less chances of ulcers and mental problems.
The way I hear it a lot of people are changing from Janet Vanzant because of the crazy way you have it in for WAB and they don't even know him. They took what he said with a grain of salt, but you protest him so crazy. Never say anything to show why he is wrong, just your thoughts of WAB.
Next time think and say something good about Janet and not how you think WAB calls people names or what ever bad you have to say against him.
I would love to hear something good said on this blog.
7:30
As I said, start thinking for yourself. lots of people are doing that lately, so we will just have to wait and see who is right at election time. All I know is that Mrs. Vanzant is not the tyrant you folks try to make her out to be.
Friday, November 27, 2009 12:18:00 PM
Hold on, I didn't say she was a tyrant. In fact I've never thought that. I would like you to say something good about her. Not this anger you spout off.
I read so much anger in your post, makes wonder if you are her sibling, spouse, or work in her office. I've heard others say that.
I know she has done some good for Giles County. How about posting that.
Janet's Mother was a wonderful person and the things that is wrote on this blog have had me saying, "No Jane Parker's daughter wouldn't do that."
I think you are just someone without anything else to do. You don't like WAB and probably don't even know Janet.
Maybe you don't like Janet, if you would hold some of your anger maybe the post would die.
3:10
I did NOT say that YOU specifically called Mrs. Vanzant a tyrant. Go back and read the post. I did say something good about her. I SAID she's not the tyrant you folks try to make her out to be. Maybe I should have said "those folks", but the message is the same.
You read anger into my post? Wrong! Disgust would be a better word. I say disgust, because "those folks" are constantly after Mrs. vanzant and select others in this community. Oh, and I'm not related to Mrs. V. in any way whatsoever. If you know she has done good in the county, please explain why I need to bring it up.
Not that it's any of your business, but I do work full time. I think you could make that same suggestion to those who apparently have nothing better to do than to try to dig up something on someone else and put it out there for all to see. In my opinion, those are the ones who seem angry.
I'll not even bother to explain my disrespect for wab. When he starts treating others with respect, I in turn will begin to respect him.
Yes, I know Mrs. Vanzant personally, and I'll say it again. She is nothing like "those people" portray her. OK?
3:10
I did NOT say that YOU specifically called Mrs. Vanzant a tyrant. Go back and read the post. I did say something good about her. I SAID she's not the tyrant you folks try to make her out to be. Maybe I should have said "those folks", but the message is the same.
You read anger into my post? Wrong! Disgust would be a better word. I say disgust, because "those folks" are constantly after Mrs. vanzant and select others in this community. Oh, and I'm not related to Mrs. V. in any way whatsoever. If you know she has done good in the county, please explain why I need to bring it up.
Not that it's any of your business, but I do work full time. I think you could make that same suggestion to those who apparently have nothing better to do than to try to dig up something on someone else and put it out there for all to see. In my opinion, those are the ones who seem angry.
I'll not even bother to explain my disrespect for wab. He is disrespectful to those who differ with him, so I cannot in all honesty respect him for that. And we both know that.
Yes, I know Mrs. Vanzant personally, and I'll say it again. She is nothing like "those people" portray her. OK?
We seem preoccupied with diversion - Ms. Van Z isn't the the number one villian, or the answer. We have been ripped off for several years, at the direct expense of educating our children and by the fact that tax money needed in other legitimate county departments has been and continues to be be tossed in the education abyss.
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?
If you begin to grasp the above, move on to the other really big 2008 school audit (p108 & 109) screw ups in the 2008 that have been swept under the rug!
If the state released the results of the 08 audit in May of 09 and the county released the results of 09 audit to the newspaper about a month ago, would the 09 audit not be the latest audit released to the public? I think that would be a real simple statement. I do not see how WAB can argue with that simple statement. He says latest audit released to public is 08, duh.
duh
Is it so hard for you to understand, when WAB wrote this thread the 08 audit was the one released on the internet by the state.
Since then the 09 audit has been posted on the internet.
I wonder why it was posted quicker than the 08 was posted.
You just have a bone to pick with WAB, admit it.
12:38
Uh....I think there are several people who would have a bone to pick with your hero. Admit that.
And I am not the same person you addressed in your above post.
ON November 16, 2009, WAB posted:
"There seems to be some great discomfort over the latest State Audit that was done and released by the state. The last State Audit that was released covers the period of 1 July 2007 - 30 June 2008. The state refers to this as the 2008 Audit and was released and posted on the State Comptroller's Website a few weeks ago. The link to that audit is http://www.comptroller1.state.tn.us/RA_CA/CountyAudits.asp?C=028."
Noticed he did say latest, so they helps some of you, but you have to admit it was latest posted on the State Comptroller's site. Mrs. V already had the 2009 audit, but not WAB. I went and looked at it when I read WAB's thread. You can look at it today and you will find 2009 audit.
Is there anyway we can let this die?
11/27/09 9:06
What was provided to the paper on the 2009 audit was NOT what showed up on the 2009 online audit findings from the State.
The 2008 audit was released on the state website on May 11, 2009, the 2009 audit was released on November 18, 2009. Why the 2008 was released so late I have no idea. What was released in the paper as 2009 audit is exactly what was released to the paper. WAB is quoting the 2008 audit. That is what is confusing everyone. Why don't we drop it? I would like WAB to admit he is wrong. Latest Audit Released to the Public" is 2009.
Why should he admit that he was wrong when he wasn't? You yourself said that it was released on November l8. He put that on the blog on November 16.
He's got too much pride to admit to anything he might have ever done wrong. So why ask him?
359 WAB has you by the tail - The deeper you get - the deeper the pit!
ONE MORE TIME!!!!!!!!!!
The crap about 2009 & when it happened is a smoke screen to avoid the absolute 2008 financial reporting farce. No one cares that our school system is ripping off the taxpayers for millions of dollars. absolutely no one in our local government will bring the 2008 audit out in the open & demand accountability!
If you're working to cover it up you deserve to be FIRED! Suppressing information regarding fraud and malfeasance is immoral and illegal.
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?
If you begin to grasp the above, move on to the other really big 2008 school audit (p108 & 109) screw ups in the 2008 that have been swept under the rug!
Friday, November 27, 2009 9:00:00 PM
Barrett for Governor!!!
Vanzant has been written up by the State Audits since her 1st. year in office. Nothing new, but the Public never sees it. It is always printed in the local paper, but not to stand out or HEADLINES about it.
Even if she did break the law, the local DA does not have the backbone to bring charges, or he is on the take one!
Fact is she needs to go, and I don't care if your related to her, a supporter or what, she is NOT what this county needs or deserves!
Remove her -$$ from office this year, with a vote for anyone else.
If you poll the other elected officals (personally) you will fine none of them support her but only put up with her so she will not get up in their face and cause them trouble also, like she has others since she has been there, with abuiseive use of her office.
10:38
Would you stop feeding his ego?
12:17
Whatever you say, but my vote for Mrs. Vanzant will cancel yours out. And my spouse's vote for same will cancel wab's vote against her. Isn't it amazing how the electoral process works?
You seem so full of hatred. Have you ever actually taken the time to ask yourself why and where that came from?
So what is put in the local paper does not count as the latest release to the public. I don't believe the local public are in the habit of looking at the state web site but they do look in the paper. My problem is he claims that a letter was sent to commissioners denying that it was the latest audit. That is the truth and he cannot deny it. 09 is the latest audit, it was in the paper before this blog subject and WAB keeps saying that Van Zant and Garner are lying. I am not a fan of either but they are telling the truth. WAB is the one that keep bringing the 08 audit up. 09 was in the paper, released to the public before this blog. It is the latest so WAB needs to get over last years news that was in the paper last fall.
Hey, dummy wake up and smell the wet dog. WAB didn't say Vanzant or Garner were lying so how could he keep saying it. When this subject was put on this blog the 09 audit wasn't out and it had not been in the local paper or any other newspaper that's the simplest thing to prove yet just get a three year old to show you the dates of the paper and the blog.
It don't matter if the news is last year or last century dunce none of it has been addressed publically. Maybe you just don't think that such matters should be made public, you know keep it all a secret so things look good. The problem is it still stinks.
Hey dummy, I just read the Daily Herald Saturday edition you would love the front page article on the WAB. He's in the first column above the fold. I know you gonna be jealous when somebody reads it to you since the only time you ever been on the front page was when you was being housebroke, sorry that didn't work out for you.
greasy...
Why do you have to resort to name-calling when someone disagrees with your opinion? Well, at least I'm not the only one who disagrees with you.
Hey 3:56 why do you think I called you a name because you disagree with me, you disagree with everybody chump. Besides I didn't specify you as a dummy that must be something you just took as descriptive of you and your shallow thinking process.
You're right 3:56 there are others who disagree with me, most people think you're just stupid. I was trying to be nice guess you just don't appreciate kindness.
greasy...
No, what I don't appreciate are know-it-alls like you who think anyone who disagrees with or questions what they say is some kind of idiot. It will be a cold day in July before I make any effort to get along with you again. I try to make peace with you and you call me a chump. Outrageous!
You really need to get some help with that Hook, Line, and Sinker Syndrome. You have the classic symptoms.
This is a WAB quote, "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." WAB was wrong in this quote. The County Executive and Financial Management Director announced the 2009 audit. With this quote he implied that they were not telling the truth. Since he keeps quoting 2008 and what was in the paper was 2009. Do I know the date greasygravy, no but since WAB had this in here he was talking about what was in the paper so I was not the only one who saw it. I don't save old papers and I am not going to the paper to find out when it was in there but since your idol saw it to make a subject on the blog it must be true. Apparently he did not know the difference between 2008 and 2009 before he wrote on here. Again don't call people names, that is something we tell our elementary age children. I assume you are older than that so you know better.
11-30 The "subject" is clearly about the 08 audit & the fact that there has been no public explanation by the finance director, the co. mayor, or any other public official. We're being sucked away with BS about dates of corruption instead of ending the "corruption"!
Without question, the financial director has an obligation to publicly address the 2008 audit issues! It isn't her fault the state was a year late in releasing their findings. Without question, it is her fault if no public disclosure and explanation was published in the past 6 months after the state finally did release the audit. If she reports to Ms. VanZant, then both have failed in their duty to the citizens. If it's a cover up, both should be terminated for cause - council can set that in motion!
The other real big issue is fraudulent reporting in 2008, as copied from an earlier post on the other thread about this subject - as follows:
"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?"
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 6:15:00 PM"
NOTE::: (the state audit report has those numbers in it on pages 108 & 109) If that's true, then the bigger question is why the absolute silence? Any GASB certified auditor has an obligation to take exception to any such discrepancy! It doesn't matter what the scope of the audit was, the discrepancies are so large and obvious, that an educationally qualified auditor, certified or not, can't claim a legitimate level of incompetence & ignorance to not see it! The expectation levels of professional and ethical competence for a CPA is much higher than GASB certification!
With all of that in mind, the situation is as simple as the financial director's actions not meeting the obligations defined by both position and CPA certification. If one knows what to do, and doesn't, the system is corrupted and the person is compromised!
The monkey is on the back & it ain't going away!
Want to make a difference? Post this stuff in stores - raise all sorts of discussion GITRDONE!
After re-checking my audio tape of the meeting in question the Financial Management Director announced merely “we have the results of the audit and there were only two minor problems in the Ambulance Service”. There was no date mentioned in reference to which audit. When I wrote the introduction to the thread “2008 County Audit Finally” it was my understanding that the reference she had made was to the latest audit available to the general public. At that time the 2008 was the latest audit that had been released to the public. I have made several entries that clearly identified the 2008 audit as the one with the most severe violations. I never quoted from the newspaper article only from the statement made in the committee meeting. Every effort that has been made by the disgruntled poster trying to redirect attention to the 2009 audit has been nothing less than an effort to distract from the problems identified in the 2008 audit. Basically it has been a feeble attempt to combine lemons with coconuts and make people believe they have a banana cream pie by forgetting the main topic. Contrary to the anonymous poster’s illegitimate claim I do know the difference between the 2008 and 2009 audits, the postings I have made were focused on the 2008 audit to the extreme discomfort of the cowardly poster who continues their efforts to hide the truth about the 2008 audit that revealed severe shortcomings in the leadership of some officials. Allen Barrett
But we won't be getting an apology from the great one anytime soon about this error.
WAB the audit from 08 was in the paper last year. Why are you bringing it up now? That is the problem you imply that those in charge were not telling the truth about the 09 audit. You apparently DO NOT know the difference in the audits. The 08 was in the local paper last year, the 09 this year. Which commissioner is asking for anything on last years audit. I have not heard anyone say anything about it but you. It was in the paper last fall so nobody is hiding anything. I do not understand your claims. And 3:56 it will be a cold day in you know where when we get an apology.
It's called too much pride.
508 Got your venom all stirred up! The 2008 audit wasn't released until May,2008 & the paper article at that time white washed the subject!
Whoopie - 1019 got you on the blind run. Don't know what to do, do you? - We agree & figure your jig is about up! You might get your free medical care in an orange jump suit when reality ever comes to Giles Co. WAB didn't write it & you can whine like a weasel, but you can't escape what you do & what you are. You're a floater in the bowl, just waiting for someone to flush.
make that May 2009
OK for you two imbeciles that don't know the difference between 2008 and 2009 get someone to pay attention for you because this will come as a shock to you 2008 came before 2009. Why can everyone but you understand this simple matter. It's embarrassing that your lack of intelligence is showing but an even greater embarrassment when you realize that is your intelligence. Just how long ago did your last brain cell assume room temperature?
The 3 of you on the blog is very entertaining !!! You can tell that none of you know what you're talking about. You're arguing way too much about nothing that you can do anything about this year..
3:32, that has been my point. Why is WAB bringing up an audit that is over a year old when the new audit is out. He is talking old news so he needs to forget it.
The 2008 audit information is 6 months old, and the information has been hidden - the big stuff on p10something - kept away from idiots like you, so you will think rabbit terds are still jelly beans. If your kid can find his way to the bus stop, you think he's a genius, because mr jksn tells you that
10:05 you can make a point without being rude. The 08 audit was in the paper last fall. That is a year ago. I saw it in the paper, I saw the actual audit afterwards. The state did not post until May but it was in all the local media last fall. Please play nice when you may your incorrect point. If I saw it last year and got over it then I am not the idiot. That was the last audit for the books without an entire year under Financial Management.
The 2008 audit was not in the local paper last fall a year ago, last winter, last spring, last summer or this fall, period. Don't believe me call the paper and ask. I don't know what 6:22 read in the paper but it was absolutely not the audit.
6-22 The 2008 Giles County audit was not released until May, 2009 - have it on file.
The 2008 school budget was a scam! Reasonable expenses were overstated and revenue was understated to obtain authority to increase taxes and or raid savings to make up the difference, in what can only be described as run away corruption and spending! Because 2008 taxes were not increased, someone's tail had to be twisted. As the real revenue gushes in, spending is easily squandered away from essential basic priorities, and wasted in the bloated administrative areas. The appearance of having to raid reserves to make ends meet is insured by making sure "necessary ends" never meet. The fact that the core engine of education (essential teachers and workers who "shovel coal in the boiler") didn't get raises, meets that test. Because final 2007 budget revenue was understated by $561,143 and expenditures were overstated by $698,949, that document was "padded" by $1,260,092! By using those 2007 "padded" numbers as a base comparison to the 2008 budget, commissioners were busy comparing numbers and hopelessly searching for areas "to cut", without realizing that the school system had "slipped in" a $1.3 million increase in the 2007 budget numbers that they thought represented real actual 2007 spending. They who have been running in circles and made fools of, should be ready to exercise their power to end this game! This same scam (fraud) has been an annual event for several years, because the "education system" is rewarded by the scam, county government doesn't have the will to fix it, the state enables it rather than fixes it, and our financial management that is paid to blow the whistle can't muster the wind to blow it.
Proof? Jackson's budgeted 2008 sales tax of $2,762,500, is the same $2,762,500 falsely stated as 2007, and materially lower than the actual $3,008,882 stated for 2006! The 2007 actual $3,135,548 was known within reason long before the 2008 budget was approved. The understatement for 2008 would be over $400,000 with inflation factored into the budget numbers. The actual 2008 sales tax of $3,181,825, created $419,325 favorable revenue collections in the state audit school financial spending - budget assessment! The numbers were openly protested in two budget committee meetings before passing the budget request to council for approval! It's witnessed by all in attendance. Unquestionably, the budget funding request was falsified and the budget operating performance report published by the state is equally corrupted. However, the issue is, was, and has been far greater than that one example.
donm
So donm you think you could predict what the sales revenue is going to be for the next year. I don't think anyone could. It is a guess and no can predict correctly what is going to happen the next year. Did anyone predict that gas prices were going to do what they did or electric bills. You have to make a guess at what is going to happen and these people do the best they can. The same people are not doing the books now that did it during the time period that you are quoting. Jackson can only go by the figures he is giving, he does not do the spreadsheets and I doubt seriously he knows how. You people need to let the past go and see what the finance office comes up with not what the old staff did.
The Finance Office don't make the budgets they receive the budgets that have been approved by the division and the commission.
While no one can predict to the penny what the sales tax will be you can certainly get within $50,000.00.
You look at the previous years collections then at what is happening in the world, not just Giles County, and you make a prediction. There are many people who made a fortune predicting the huge gas increases and the artificially high electric rates. People who look beyond the end of their nose are more able to see the future than those satisfied to believe Giles County is the center of the universe.
The finance office does the worksheets required to do the budgets. They tell the department heads what amounts are needed to cover expenses based on last years expenditures. The department head tell her what thye want to do but she does the budget. Most of the department heads would not know how to use any kind of software needed to work on those budgets.
7:00 There are several accounting rules that apply to forecasting and many more that apply to ethics. The simplest is matching revenue and expense. If you forecast inflation, you must do likewise on the revenue side. The most obvious is, you don't deceive or lie, & if you do, don't brag about it.
One of the differences between the private and the our department of education is saying "I don't know the facts and don't know what to do." Your desk will have someone else sitting in it the next day in the private sector, while there might be several new assistants eager to learn how you "do it" in the other.
The school numbers were deliberately and contemptuously falsified in the budget that went to the council for 2008. The 2007 numbers were known and could have been adjusted for inflation as appropriate. However, they were not changed in spite of being told they were grossly understated in the presence of Mr. Jackson in budget committee meetings before council approval! He proved he had the power to get his scam approved by the council and ram it all the way past the May, 2009 book cook off. Now, we have this incredible accounting mess that everyone is afraid to discuss! Apparently several people have figured out what is really happening, and it isn't going away! Everyone makes mistakes and errors, but if we are honest, work together, and openly learn from them, operations improve. This chaos is corruption, not honest error.
If spending went from $32,044,024 in 2007 to $34,046,076 in 2008 (audited numbers!), then spending increased $2 million! By reading further, I find that net asset depletion was $1.3 million more which makes consumption $3.2 million more on a comparable basis! Could the director of education be that ignorant? No! With all of that in mind, we are to believe that revenue collections and expenses were $1.1 million favorable to budget (audit p 109) and Reserve funds were improved by $1.6 million (audit p109)? I can understand why no one would want to explain how $3.2 million spilled out of the bucket, but we saved $2.7 million because it's gone, because we couldn't give the teachers a raise, because there wasn't enough money for busses! It's a complex scam, not something an average person could pull off for four or five years. The council and school board have an obligation to know, act, and insure we have reasonable integrity in county business. All are duty bound to inform the public, but that apparently hasn't happened!
ps. The state produces monthly & ytd sales tax collections on its website - we receive those collections monthly.
The budget is due for approval in April long before the June 30th close of books. Again, look at the 2009 books and see if the new office has done a better job. I am not an accountant and do not claim to be. We had an election to set up a new Financial Management office. Have they done a better job. Give them a chance to learn how the school books work. I do know that school accounting is different in a lot of ways since the state has a hand in giving some of the money also.
The question is about accountability for 2008 and several preceding years of highly improper financial manipulation in the school financial records, not any other department.
I have supported financial management and Ms. Garner. Record keeping has improved, but the problem is fraud and corruption by a function that has a lot more entrenched power that she thinks she has. I doubt she has ever encounter a situation where very nice sounding people with powerful convincing followers are doing very bad and destructive things. The certified accountant has an obligation to be objective and true to the obligations they assume, and they do not ever let anyone mess with the integrity of their product of information and accountability. She will fail if she doesn't step up and address the problems at hand.
The 2008 numbers are an ideal opportunity to get rid of fraud, and at the same time, improve the financial condition of Giles County and the rest of the state. The state audit budget performance section is so far astray that no sane person would reject suggestions to clean it up and give taxpayers a real report on government spending! Being a county employee under the thumb of the architect of corruption is a highly negative situation that is totally unnecessary. Bend to the pressure and you are corrupted by what they and you will do to yourself. Address the issue openly! The citizens, and in this case the AICPA will strongly support cleaning the dirty laundry. The money that can be saved along with improved county employee relations would be extremely positive.
The silence of the officers and elected officials directly over this situation continues to endorse the mess we live with. If a teacher stole pencils, we would read about it in the paper, after the arrest and jailing. Jackson (and technically the BOE) took the "new" 2008 money that could have triggered a cola raise to employees, spent it on other things, and lied to the public about not spending "new money" that wasn't there last year! And... the town was buzzing about needing a tax increase or there wouldn't be enough money to teach the taxpayers another lesson!
There was nothing illegal about the 2008 budget or something would have been done. Maybe it was not right but not illegal. We need to get over the old budgets because nothing can be done. We need to concentrate on this year's budget and the budget that will be worked on starting after the first of the year. Maybe some of you need to attend the budget committee meetings and the work sessions that will start early in 2010. They work for months on the budget so go and make yourself heard then. Talk to your board members and let them know you are tired of the same old, same old.
Falsifying financial records to fraudulently keep a job, reward people who "help", or obtain money that otherwise would not be given to a person, is and was illegal. This director is slick & has conned the school board, council, & others into his plot. Where would the DA stop if he started prosecuting? 90% of those conned are good honest people who were sucked in by auditors who don't audit and maybe a financial manager who can't drum up the courage to manage. Really, who has dared to report what really happened?
The financial manager is supposed to be a profession who is paid by the people to tell them what happened. The director and board of education are supposed to be top notch educators who are going to teach little ones how to add, read, write, & know right from wrong; but they can't do any of it & everyone wonders why children are illiterate & don't know right from wrong.
We know one thing for sure. When someone says "booo" you're running the other way. Soon as the smoke clears, you're back telling everyone what to do when someone says "booo", & then someone says "booo who?" & off we go again!
Until we get some school system & financial affairs people with some common sense & the will power to stand up & be counted; tax payers are going to cut them off. The best way to stop it is take the money away from them - no increases for inflation or anything else.
Is the scene, 1) a bunch of crooks who are "doing their thing", 2) a bunch of idiots with the IQ of a carrot?, or 3) a bunch of cowards afraid to do their job to protect the county & provide little ones someone to look up to for advice and morality?
Anyone who believes things are going to get better, when they're afraid to tell you what is happening, is sure enough going to get screwed if they belive!
2:04
You are an incredibly angry person. There's nothing perfect here, and that is the case everywhere else. It's sad that people like you aren't in charge so all this corruption can be cleared up.
The problem isn't so much that there
is corruption and incompetence here, like you said it's everywhere in some form or another, the greater problem here is that so many people like 3:28 are satisfied to do nothing to change things and make them better.
4:13
I happen to be 3:28 and you just told a lie. I believe the guilty should swing quickly, so don't bother making false statements about me in the future.
Sorry 5:37 but your dozens and dozens of postings belie your claim of wanting the guilty to swing quickly.
Over and over and over you have refused to consider the evidence that has been presented showing the absolute guilt of many who are/have done wrong. 4:13 made no false statement about you your history proves the falseness of your own claims.
greasy...
Wrong yet again my arrogant nemesis. As smart as you are, I'm surprised that you would make the argument that I would be an enabler and defender of corruption. How foolish of you.
As for 4:13, he did in fact make the same false statement about me.
328 Are we caught up in defending corruption, where we can't even comprehend the fact that bozo has made fools of everyone in the county, on top of everything else? But, that wouldn't be logical, would it! Are you bozo, laughing at us, rubbing dung in the wound, taunting those crapped on?
It's been going on for five or six years - Cretins have been exalted before us, rewarded for their yassam's & yassirs, while those who try are fed in an empty trough.
I'm not angry, Bozo can't raise my taxes & take my money. He can bark & growl, but the teeth are gone. I just wonder why those who have watched the purchasing power of their wages and respect disappear just cow down and march like good lemmings towards the sea.
It's just a study in human behavior - trying to understand why the lowly rat will protect its babies, while homo erectus tosses their brats to progressive liberal indoctrinated upright & uptight creatures in well pressed suits - to learn the arts of deception & thievery. It's No wonder the new delightened generation can't tell the difference between the intake, exhaust, & regenerator.
12-9 Isaiah 30-17 - One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one, at the rebuke of five shall you flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill.
Sounds like GC today? - running so fast we don't have time to even talk about it or warn the other thousands that there are wolves amongst the sheep. Ahhh, but they are so sweet & cuddly when their tummies are full. If you're real nice to them & they like you, they might even share their spoils...
And what is the game plan? Ahhh ha! we, the sheep shall pretend there are no wolves and we shall see none, therefore, there will be none. We shall teach the wolves a lesson by indoctrination of equality of the intake, exhaust, and regeneration to all sheep; who will, thus, and therefore get their intake entangled in the exhaust, looking for the regenerator, which isn't there. And, as the supply of lambs dwindles to zero, the wolves will starve to death, and after the last sheep and lamb is eaten, shortly thereafter, the last wolf will starve, and there will be no more wolves to worry about! Sounds like an executive decision worthy of the highest level of governance!
Sometimes, the well is too deep for that which floats! Pass it on to the enlightened.
7:26
Go back and read my post again, and you will get a clear understanding of where I stand on the issue of corruption. OK?
There is no misunderstanding of your position. You don't want the public or the commission informed! The public thinks the commission and school board are covering up corruption because they do nothing about it. They are not accountants or capable of digging the facts. Those charged with the accounting and financial management of our county government are not disclosing the facts, thus nothing is done to correct the issues. Issues that should be corrected by counciling, reprimand, termination, etc., evolve into full blown corruption when not properly addressed in a timely manner. If you ignore it, you are facillitating it! We have a flat tire & we've been driving on it for five or six years & we call the education???
Read the report - it's a real bad joke & black eye on the county! People who know what it means will think we're a bunch of dumb asses with our ears straight up walking in circles! It hurts our ability to attract businesses!
7:39
You have no idea what I WANT, so your charge is false. What you refer to as the "public" is, in my opinion, a very vocal and unhappy minority who can't seem to find anything good about those who actually ARE in charge of goings on in Giles County. To accuse me of not wanting people to know about corruption is like saying I would want a convicted rapist to get off with a slap on the wrist. Untrue!
Let's try openness and truth, or is that impossible? If I pay someone for unbiased openness and truth and get none, it's time to make it known what is expected & hopefully they will comply. If they will not do what they are paid to do, replace them. If the financial management people don't provide the data and analysis required for departments and the public to manage affairs, chaos and corruption moves in & stays till someone changes it.
If the 2008 mess isn't explained with instruction, just about everyone "in charge" will have to believe what they are told and see (?), & they'll reward incompetence and corruption & fight for more of the same! Success is only possible by openly addressing and discussing problems to find real solutions.
You can wash the kitty up nice & powder her nose, but if she has a stripe down her back, she's still a skunk & will pee on you if you get too close! Uncle Mose knows!
Inferiority complex we've got
cause our head is in the pot
says that which is, is not
till brains turn to rot
For reasons long forgot
since we be a little tot
we crawl instead of trot
and still pick our snot
The little robot
dare fly not swat
nor eat the kumquat
for his mind is shot
a clue for you to chew
A sure sign of failure is having to tell everyone how good you are!
A sure sign of success is having everyone tell you how good you are!
A sure sign of failure is begging for more money.
A sure sign of success is people begging to support you.
Mercy, mercy, we don't need all those reports with big words & funny numbers. The answer really is simple.
riddler,
I see you are back again with more of your "Robert Frost quality" prose. I am so impressed.
Hey, I just had an idea for you and a few other malcontents. Why don't you guys get involved with theater or something of that nature? I'm sure your intelligence would be more appreciated in the arts arena than on a blog. Just something to think about.
Good idea! I have the ideal script about a weight lifter with hemmoroids.
This thread is a good example of what's wrong this country & the government that runs it.
In the private sector:
1) if you are the owner, all employees work at your pleasure &
2) They serve you, not themselves.
3) They protect your interests.
4) you serve your customers or they go elsewhere
5) if you don't there are no sales and you go broke, lose your wealth and reputation.
6) if you go broke, all employees are terminated & leave empty handed
7) If it's broke, you fix it.
8) you pay all sorts of taxes to a government dedicated to ?...
In contrast, Government is supposed to be subservient to the citizens - "employees" of citizens!
In Contrast, the citizens are also customers of the givernment!
1) Government serves the citizens by imposing government's taxes that can not be changed by the citizens in order to provide government services that can not be changed by the citizens.
2) If the owner doesn't want the services, they can refuse the service, but must pay for it anyway!
3) If government doesn't want to account for performance or public money, government can simply refuse, and the owner - customer citizen can kiss butt.
4) If government wastes the owners money, it's expected & OK.
5) If government runs out of money, they borrow more, and raise taxes when they can't borrow anymore.
6) If it's not broke, you break it.
The list is endless. Fortunately, our little government operates as good as any ... with one big powerful isolated exception - Education ... the manufacturers of wisdom ... the icon of what is right ... where up is down and wrong is right, and wisdom is whiz-dumb.
It's a situation where Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep, but found a herd of lemmings to lead her to the see. And now, we know not what we see, because it's all in the eyes of the beholder, who ain't willing to share what's to be held until the last memory dies of old age. The logic goes back centuries to the philosophy, that, if you plant a tomato plant atop a terd, you'll get a nice big juicy red tomato to swallow. Trouble is, there ain't no tomato plant, & what we're fed tastes a lot like a terd!!
11:52
So you know what excrement tastes like? Interesting.
I'll bet you like them organic carrots & taters, kultervated by a mule with a straight pipe - workin the co2 & sulpher out of his system so you can inhale all tham poisonses. Not too much old ignorant farmers don't know. watch & listen, touch & feel sniff & then taste. Don't have to taste it cause we've shoveled enough dung to know what it is.
Moral of the story, we ain't swallowed nothin & don't intend to. If you like brown tomatters, we can find you some, better'n what you're swallerin now.
Away from hay the in manger
the lambs will not be fed
at hands of a stranger
our sheep may be dead
as shepherds we pay
sleep in the hay
must every day
be that way
till nay
be yea
riddler,
I see you have penned more Robert Frost quality prose. I am truly impressed.
As I look upon the writings in this line, I see a cross section of the cancer that is devouring our society. We seem paralyzed by power and impotent in the face of adversity. I'm very old now, and having seen times where food was a blessing and joy was a place to sleep with a family that had grit, substance, and didn't need to be told to share what little you had if you neighbor in need. We hadn't learned to mock God, country, and the old ways of calling a liar a liar, so we didn't want anyone to be deceived. You see, we protected family and neighbors from liars and thieves, with whatever it took, as a duty and right. The school taught us to read, write, understand what it took to be free, the history of mistakes and successes, and things that we could use to make a living. School was a place of discipline where you got a piece of it whether you deserved it or not, just like in the real world. It was also a place of integrity, honesty, and respect for God & country.
Today we bow to education as if it were a religion, building shrines to this that and something else, but never really knowing why. All we know is they take more and give less. Sports are all about believing someone is something they never will be, instead of head thumping fun. Instead of some passing and some failing, everyone is a winner, and no one knows the difference between winning and losing, and thus no one cares because no one knows. Instead of scorning sin, children are taught to tolerate everything but goodness, God, and the Bible. Because goodness is a sign of superiority, The Ten Commandments are forbidden, and the many lessons of ancient times are lost to the folly of the day, because God's pure word is forbidden under the tree of knowledge. As a matter of fact, if what I read here is true, we are praising and rewarding failure and can't bring ourselves to turn this upside down mess right side up!
It's as if the watch dogs are sleeping or afraid & hiding while the wolves are out there eating our children and neighbors. I remember a time when the watch dogs joined the wolves and millions of afraid and cowed people lost their lives in ovens and firing squads, for terrible things such believing in God or because they were just born somewhere else. I can remember a time where everywhere you looked you could find a family that lost a loved one because they had the grit and substance to fight evil and tyranny. But that was many years ago, before God and fighting to protect the sanctity of home were outlawed in schools and government buildings. We are at a point where the GI will have to write Obama & get permission to whack some SOB trying to blow up a school bus!
I think this thread says no one in power has the giddy-up-go & gumption to get off their fat asses & take care of business. When the watch dogs are too lazy to hunt, too timid to bark, & too afraid to chase a rabbit let alone scare a wolf, it's time get rid of the sons of bitches (dogs, for those who don't know the literal meaning)! In other words, if you can't be honest, won't warn of danger, & can't deal with removing things that need to go, go somewhere else! When you get a reputation for what you are, rather that what think you are, you'll leave before the boot hits your rear end. If you don't have the guts to do your job, hold your head low, so we'll know we can't count on you.
I believe these threads get crazier every day. Where do all you fruitcakes get all this information? You must stay up half the night thinking up all this stuff. Why don't you do something worth while like visit the sick and try to help someone in need or that is lonely and have no one at this time of year. Remember, God is still in control.
10:37
Amen! What you have here is a small band of unhappy people who seem to have nothing better to do than to pick at and find fault with anyone they so choose to attack. Nobody, including them, is perfect, but you would never convince them of that.
I think you had some excellent suggestions on things they could do to occupy their time.
702 you've had your butt burned so many times it's beyond figuring.
So worried you're going to get your due - can't cognitize anymore.
8:08
I had to get up off the floor laughing when I read your post. You CAN'T be serious!
Let me interpret what you just said. My words angered you, so you had to lash out at me. How childish.
By the way, my post was not directed to you to begin with.
not the least angered. You're like a rat always comming to the wrong food dish, getting whacked instead of fed, always poking that pointed little nose closer & closer until that little blue flame reaches out & zap! Never learns - must be one of TJ's advisors..... It's funny - why would you think anyone was mad?
8:00
Ok, let's put aside the word "angered" and replace it with "agitated". Would that suit you better? Either way, you didn't like what I had to say, so you chose to lash out at me. Did you do it in a spitit of love and appreciation? Not hardly.
You are very comical, but please don't make me laugh so hard again. It's really hard to pick myself up off the floor. And Mr.Jackson has nothing to do with this. What a joke!
The issue of this subject line was quite simple. We had an audit that revealed some problems. Most as usual were little oopsies that really amounted to nothing but human error that happens because humanoids are related to hemorrhoids.
Some are not innocent little mistakes. If we're doing "it" because it's the way the state wants it done, there's a good chance it's simply a bigger problem. If it is a situation where the community is paying more than it should, to a private supplier, there may be a rat in the woodpile. If the rate comes out of the woodpile and argues with you, well, why argue about it? If you don't know what rats do, you deserve what rats do to what you gave them, & in return what they leave behind as thanks for your sacrifice.
Then there is a third issue, a beautiful flower, left in appreciation of all the money you threw at the horticulturist in charge of herbal essence. Your little would bee buzzes over to see and savor the scent from where it went. That's when Ms Venus grabbed him by his lavenus & down the hole went his body whole. The Venus fly trap was his first & last mishap. It's where a would bee, could be, as good as it should.
It's something you find, accidentally left behind
like a melon rind
that flies find
If a few million in good paint
is proclaimed by the saint
and you find it ain't
are you happy?
Again that was last years audit not this year. Finance Office answered to the state for those findings. We need to move on we are now on 2010 year books. We did much better in 2009. That is the year we need to discuss. You folks sound like an old drunk who keeps bringing up the past. 08 is way over. Let it go. Let's work on the audit findings for 09 and see that the year we are in now that those findings are changed. We apparently corrected the 08 or we would have had those brought up again in the 09 audit. Great job Finance Office. Mrs. Garner must be doing a great job. This audit was so much better than the past.
The beginning issue wasn't Mrs Garner! The issue was the director of schools and the practice of cooking their books! A secondary issue was the state audit and a practice of very poor reporting!
It wasn't a matter of "if" the books were cooked, - they were! If, our accounting structure can't figure that out, they are not doing their job. The accounting function has a clear cut obligation to properly report the 2008 budget reporting mess (county & state reports) to the school board, the county council, and the public.
Of course, everyone is wondering why it is being "covered up" by both the state and our county Financial Management. We have had more than enough time to hear a good response & reason to not disclose material indiscretions, but none come & none will, until the sky falls atop someone's head!
People run their mouths about getting rid of the director of schools, but nothing happens. Maybe, nothing happens because the school board isn't really sure ... because those paid to insure financial integrity are NOT doing their job!
If you are cooking the books and saying nothing is wrong - and the accounting function says nothing other than we're doing a better job, "finance" has certified the integrity of the cooked books! There is no middle ground when it comes to turning your head the other way to corruption! It's called a failure that begits zero trust!
I hate to say it, but it looks like those who claimed the fin mgr wouldn't be able to handle the corruption, appear to be right. Good capable people often fail in management because they don't have the backbone to face adversity & stand up to power when it gets dangerous and corrupted.
I think Ms. Garner is doing an excellent job, and I know that's not what you want to read on this blog.
4-24 You're dead wrong about the desire to read good news. The issue isn't about Mrs. Garner not being a good accountant, a hard worker, or good honest person. We apparently see the same thing up to a point.
She's not just a bookkeeper or an accountant who may think her responsibility ends with the person she reports to.
She is a director finance and a CPA with professional obligations. That obligation trumps the power of the state, the commission, the board of education, the director of schools, and a desire to not get fired because you're not afraid to objectively report misconduct.
Disclosure is mandatory. The deception reported in the 2008 state budget report is very "material". Falsifying revenue (with knowledge) is highly material. The fact that the state auditors "overlooked" the obvious, doesn't change the issue or the obligation! She has in essence a police power and obligation to the public, the commission, and any department or individual her findings may affect. It must be an open and honest straight forward process.
Financial management was passed by a vote and mandate of the people. This thread is saying the right things have not occurred! The director has a very powerful position akin the queen in a game of chess. If the queen acts really a pawn, the game was lost before it started. So far, nothing of substance has been communicated to the public, almost two years after the fact.
No matter what is said in a positive manner, corruption and vulnerability to corruption are alive and well. See no evil, say no evil, and hear no evil are the three legs of the stool of evil, and that seat is as sound as ever!
It's as if the guards are asleep or afraid to rouse the sleeping troops, as the enemy marches in the unlocked gates!
Bout time to get some more trouble stirred up. It looks like this blog is about to die of boredom.
Mrs. Garner had nothing to do with the 2008 school books. She did have a hand in the 2009 budget and the 2010. If there is something wrong with those books then she can be blamed. The school system had their own bookkeeping during the 2008 budget year. She cannot be blamed for 2008, quit blaming her for things she had nothing to do with. I did not vote for Financial Mangement but I am more than willing to give them a chance. They seem to be doing a great job according to the 2009 audit that was just released.
I didn't say she created the problem! Her silence says there is no problem!
She did oversee the 2008 account and budget changes made after school ended. On the surface, corrections are always the proper thing to do. Equally important is disclosure of the problems that were corrected. That was not done! In fact it was common knowledge that those after the fact changes were made to avoid a state audit write up. Without disclosure that process is highly irregular and improper!
The fact that the final budget amendment did not correct the sales tax or reserve fiasco may have been an oversight or error on her part - understandable & forgivable based on the mess she inherited. The proper procedure for handling that one is, again disclosure. Covering it up for any reason is impropriety. Covering it up to protect someone who needs to be fired for cause carries the issue far beyond that point.
The audit and the school financial budget performance data within that report were released under her watch. That report is in gross error due to manipulation. By its very faulted character, it grossly misinforms the public in the variance to budget information! If you believe there was favorability in revenue, spending, and reserve management, you will believe anything!
Accounting is about accountability & right now, we have none. Trust me, doing the right thing is painful at times, but never wrong or corrupting. Are we trying to say government is not accountable to the citizens??? If we lose that battle (we are close to that point) we will no longer be free!
Silence beggs action. If the people paid to represent and inform us refuse to do so, what is the next step?
If the people paid to represent and inform us are forced to wall of explaination, what will they do? 1) provide proper guidance and information? 2) corrupt themselves by defending the problem and problem maker? 3) pretend there is no problem?
If one is afraid of the problem and problem maker, they are obviously "not up to the job they hold".
You hit the nail on the head 10:18
10:18....
I hate to keep repeating this, but we have an electoral process in place that is designed for removing those elected officials who do not want to be accountable. In addition, we have the criminal justice system for dealing with all the crooks you see, particularly in Giles County. This place, according to some, is infested with crooks and liars. Corruption is rampant! Sadly, only those self-appointed few have the vision to see that.
Parrots repeat - people brains use them for the betterment of themselves and society. We're not necessarily interested in jailing you - we demand you do what you're are paid to do!
There is no law against stupidity! If there was - you'd be locked up. As long as you can feed yourself without community support, I see no reason to institutionalize you! If you're fat dumb and happy, so be it!
He who vouches for corruption is usually corrupt. Many are simply brain dead. You hate anyone stepping on dirty feet, because your's are unclean & as a result, routinely stompped. Get used to it!
The ageless practice of shunning & rubbing your nose in your dung works much better than waiting for a crook to decide that crime doesn't pay, or waiting for an idiot to realize they can't find their rear end with their own two hands plus all of their idiot supporters' hands.
It's not a matter of calling you a name or tattling on you, it's simply identifying your lack of sense & morality with your physical being. That way everyone knows what to expect out of you, without a big surprise. The old human tradition of naming people, such as Baker, Taylor, Farmer, Crook, etc., would be a good idea in todays messed up world. How about Dumbass - someone might even think you're a trying to be a bassmaster tangled up in your hook line & sinker.
10:14
I don't know who you are referring to as the one who vouches for corruption. Surely, you're not talking about me. But I do stand opposed to name-calling and accusations. Your problem remains that you don't like it when someone like me points out the mean-spirited attacks.
You don't approve of certain elected officials. Vote against them at election time.
If you don't approve of "name calling and accusations" what punishment did you assign yourself for calling WAB
a "disgusting, rude and obnoxious man"?
I know you punished yourself for that moral relapse since you are a man of principal and integrity and would never allow such a hypocritical act to go unchallenged and unpunished.
4:17
I believe I said his behavior is rude and obnoxious. No moral relapse. You just tried to trick me, and it backfired on you. Then you attacked my principles and integrity. Nice try.
The exact quote was "Let me be totally candid with you. I find the man quite dispicable, rude, and obnoxious" This was from Jan 6, 2010 at 5:07 PM, under the topic "Schools Good or Bad"
You are such a liar 7:02 or are you denying that you wrote that entry under the topic "schools good or bad"?
No one could attack your principles or integrity because you have none. You are just a pathetic little person with no idea the world has swallowed you so you pretend that world revolves around you as a means of feeling worthwhile. You are a loser and can't stand the idea that your greatest aspiration is to remain a loser so you attack everyone else who shows a greater involvement with life than you.
11:34
Yes, I did say that his BEHAVIOR is despicable, rude, and obnoxious. But what you fail to recognize is that I was not calling him a name. I was, as he used to say about himself, simply describing behavior. Now, had I said he is a despicable, rude, and obnoxious idiot, I would have been calling him a name (idiot). I hope this finally clears up your misunderstanding between adjectives and nouns.
This was about the 2008 audit & questions why there was no disclosure or public notice.
It came close to the subject of why disclosure terrifies a few within the DOE... to the point of arm twisting & obstructing a bit of truth.
Is it not worth the effort to find out why so many know something is rotton, but they just can't quite put their finger on the right button? Is it not worth the effort to find out how DOE spending can increase many times more than COLA, when there is never a hint of an increase at budget time? How can all of this be, when things look so good in the state budget performance reports year after year?
If you don't do a little digging you won't find any gold. If you don't dig, the potatoes you lay upon the ground will not bear fruit.
Is this silence a sign of ignorance, fear, or complicity?
Could it be all three?
If one has cancer, should they do something about it or pretend it doesn't exist it?
7:04 The cancer you are referring to (people you deem unfit for elected office) can be eradicated at the voting booth. In addition to that, if they are guilty of breaking laws, turn them over to the criminal justice system. Then of course, you need to stop whining and butt out.
If you catch someone hauling your TV out the door, should you write a letter to Obama, complain, & wait for the next election; or do some whoopass & tell your neighbors to watch out for him & do the same if he comes on their property?
11:36
No, I don't need the likes of obama to tell me what to do if I catch someone robbing my castle. I have a gun, and obama and his cronies haven't taken it from me yet. Be assured that I will not be serving milk and cookies to the non-traditional houseguest.
And your point is?
It looks like the shadow and that which casts it are indistinguishable as to which is which! Amazing!
I too have a gun and a distaste for those who want to take it and the treasures it protects. I have cookies, milk, and money for those who have been chosen or hired to provide the services of civility, without reservation or regret.
When a chosen one decides to eat the cookies, drink the milk, and take the money instead of using it to provide the public work and services necessary, that chosen one is stealing from the public and me.
Rather than shooting the SOB or tar and feathering him, the best and eternally effective action is unveiling his mask of legitimacy and honor, as assumed by the office holder who desecrates the office, and let him be known as the scoundrel he is. Some repent & turn their lives around. This one hasn't, and continues to "lie for more". Thus he is not "upstanding".
So, the question becomes... He's eating your cookies, drinking your milk, and taking your money - Are you going to shoot the SOB or are you going to invite him him in for cookies, milk, & money at your expense to your detriment?
Jan 9 6:58, I have a question for you, please. I've always wondered about various "sayings" that we've come to use in our "Americanized" English. One is "same difference", another is "couldn't care less" and the statement you made, "I hate to keep repeating this, but****". If you hate to keep repeating it, why do it? You do have freedom of speech like all of us, don't you? I mean no disrespect. I am simply curious. The farther I get in school, the more confusing the old sayings become and I hope to be a writer one day so I think it would help me to know this, Thank you,please
Roberta (bertie)Carlisle
Bertie - 658 is like an early morning road kill at the end of the day. You know it's there cause it's embedded in the road, but it ain't worth trying to kick it to the side of the road. Dumbo is like a fart on a windy day - walk upwind & you'll never know she existed.
bertie...
No, 7:23 is confused again. Please allow me to clarify.
The reason I keep repeating the message is because it's apparently not sinking in. The concept is fairly simple, and I wonder if they simply choose to misunderstand. Repetition is a powerful tool in education. So, I keep hoping it will sink in if I repeat it often enough.
Best of luck with your writing aspirations.
Da shadow never sleep
So he who take & keep
find a price is steep
to time for long Weep
More Robert Frost quality prose I see.
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