|
Numerous meetings, repeat requests for help and guidance made to the
software specialists and the auditors, outside consultants, long
labored hours by the treasurer and her staff, and yet no one really
seems to know just what the problems are or how to resolve them.
It appears that it may be a matter of learning how to integrate
government accounting into the business accounting software system.
That would involve setting the accounts up in a certain way to start
with. The Great Plains specialists say that the software has that
capability.
Committee members recognize that it is too late to set those up
and fix the current problems. It would involve going back and
re-entering the entire year. And in fact, the problems would now
involve two years, as it is the close of another fiscal year in two
weeks.
Of primary concern right now is getting the audit completed.
After that, the focus will shift to how to prevent problems for next
year.
During a finance meeting Thursday morning, the committee
struggled with how to get Crowe Chizek and Tectura to be more
responsive to the county's need right now. It has been emphasized
again and again that the county is not trying to lay blame but to
get cooperation and get the audit done. That would be to the
betterment of everyone involved, including the auditor, to uphold
reputations.
There is a large investment in the software and new system. The
finance leaders say that it would be far better to resolve where the
problems are and keep it than to drop it as soon as contracts are up
and it is paid for. Its users are leaning toward dumping it for
something that is more known to work for other counties.
It was noted that Tectura has sold the Great Plains software to
LaSalle County, but LaSalle has not gone on line yet.
Attorney Jonathan Wright suggested that he thought the company
would want to have a satisfied client if they are trying to break
into the Illinois government market. He urged the committee to
pursue working together as opposed to attempting to leverage
cooperation. He also recommended not to pursue any form of
litigation, as it would not help the immediate situation, which is
all that the county really wants.
[to top of second column] |
It would be far better for Tectura to be able to say, "Yes, Logan
County had some problems, but we stuck with them and helped them
out." John Weber from the auditor's office of Crowe Chizek and Co.
and John McKeague of Techtura, consulting for the Great Plains
software, were in attendance at last month's county meeting. Both
representatives committed to help the county overcome the
difficulties and get the audit completed.
At that meeting Weber said the treasurer could submit a written
list of the figures that are not working. An outside consultant for
the county, Andy Lascody, worked with Mary Ellen Bruns to compile a
spreadsheet of the nonconforming figures. This was submitted to
Crowe Chizek, but still the figures will not work.
Second-guessing isn't going to get this done, board member Dale
Voyles said. Tectura was contacted again this week. There is a lady
from Tectura who has been here before and has demonstrated an
understanding of the system and the county needs, he said. She is
qualified to do what has to be done, he said.
The board indicated that they would pass an approval at next
Tuesday's meeting to bring in this specialist at additional expense
to try to get the problems resolved.
The audit is normally used as a guide in setting the new fiscal
year budget that begins each Dec. 1. A straw vote at Thursday
night's board-of-the-whole session indicated the board would pass
the new fiscal year budget next week.
The Logan County Health Department relies heavily on state and
federal grants. They have received extensions on a couple of grants,
but it is not known when time will run out and they will lose those
grants.
[Jan
Youngquist]
Past related articles
|
