The state auditor has offered some suggestions for dealing with a southeast Iowa crime-fighting organization’s deficit of more than $90,000.
The Lee County Narcotics Task Force is a joint venture of the county and the cities of Keokuk and Fort Madison. On May 31, the budget for the organization was short $90,098 because of a reduction in federal and state grants, as well as an increase in overtime pay to the officers involved in drug investigations.
State Auditor Dave Vaudt has suggested the city and county governments involved in the Lee County drug-fighting organization contribute cash to eliminate the deficit. The auditor’s review also found this regional task force hadn’t registered its existence with the state and hadn’t submitted required financial reports to the state in 2009 or 2011. The accounting ledger for task force operations didn’t show all transactions either.
The City of Keokuk is responsible for overseeing the finances of the Lee County Narcotics Task Force. The auditor recommends several steps to ensure proper accounting procedures are followed in the future.