Internal review, not a forensic audit

What had been referred to as a forensic audit of Oconee County finances is now called something else. Amanda Brock, county administrator, says an “internal review” is underway by an outside company as the result of the discovery of unauthorized pay raises for county employees. The review began March 28 and, according to both Brock and county attorney David Root, there’s no known date for when it is to finish. The county is spending $60 thousand on the review. Root declined to identify the company conducting the review, citing attorney-client privilege. The county attorney also said the county has consulted with a labor attorney to develop a new personnel and policy manual. The revelation that raises, not authorized by the county council, were approved for more than 150 county workers prompted the county council in the last two months to seek the review of the records of county finances going back as far as July 2018.