RELATES TO: KRS 43.070, 43.075, 64.810, 68.210
NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 43.075 requires the
Auditor of Public Accounts to promulgate administrative regulations developing
uniform standards and procedures for conducting, and uniform formats for
reporting, audits of counties and elected county officials. This administrative
regulation establishes the auditing standards, procedures, and formats for
sheriffs' tax settlement audits.
Section
1. Definition. "Generally accepted government auditing standards"
means the "Government Auditing Standards" issued by the Comptroller General of
the United States.
Section 2.
Auditing Standards, Procedures, and Formats. The financial and compliance audit
of the funds contained in each sheriff's tax settlement shall be conducted and
reported in accordance with:
(1) Generally
accepted auditing standards, referenced in
201 KAR 1:290;
(2) Generally accepted government auditing
standards, referenced in
201 KAR 1:290; and
(3) The "Audit Program for Sheriffs' Tax
Settlements," issued by the Auditor of Public Accounts, September 26,
2022.
Section 3.
Auditor's Independent Judgment. The requirements of this administrative
regulation shall not be interpreted in a manner that restricts the independent
judgment of a certified public accountant or the Auditor of Public
Accounts.
Section 4. Audit
Objective.
(1) The primary objective of an
audit of a sheriff's tax settlement shall be an audit report that provides an
opinion on whether the financial statement of a sheriff's tax settlement
presents fairly, in all material respects, the taxes charged, credited, and
paid during the tax year.
(2) An
auditor shall make tests sufficient to determine whether:
(a) The sheriff has complied with the
requirements of the uniform system of accounts adopted under KRS 68.210;
(b) Receipts have been
accurately recorded by source;
(c)
Expenditures have been accurately recorded by payee; and
(d) The sheriff has complied with all other
legal requirements relating to the management of public tax funds by his or her
office.
Section
5. Allowance of Audit Fees; Acceptance of Report.
(1) Fees for sheriffs' tax settlement audits
shall be allowable as reasonable and necessary expenses of a county or county
fee official if the independent accountant's audit has been performed and
reported in compliance with the standards, procedures, and formats promulgated
by this administrative regulation.
(2) A sheriff shall obtain written approval
of an audit report from the Auditor of Public Accounts prior to the:
(a) Release of an audit report; and
(b) Payment of fees for a sheriff's tax
settlement audit report.
(3) Failure by an independent certified
public accountant to comply with the "Audit Program for Sheriff's Tax
Settlements" and this administrative regulation, shall disqualify him from
conducting sheriff's tax settlement audits.
Section 6. Incorporation by Reference.
(1) The "Audit Program for Sheriffs' Tax
Settlements," Auditor of Public Accounts, September 26, 2022, is incorporated
by reference.
(2) This document may
be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the
office of the Auditor of Public Accounts, 209 Saint Clair Street, Frankfort,
Kentucky 40601, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.