NEW AUDIT DOCUMENT ADDS QUESTIONS TO PIKE COUNTY FINANCIAL DISPUTE

PITTSFIELD, Ill. — New documentation obtained by RiverNewsLive is adding another layer to the ongoing dispute inside Pike County government over the county’s financial condition, while also providing additional context to County Clerk Natalie Roseberry’s decision to stop attending county committee meetings.

RiverNewsLive first reported August 20 that Roseberry had notified county officials that neither she nor members of her staff would attend committee meetings going forward. At the time, RiverNewsLive had confirmed the decision through two separate sources but had not yet obtained Roseberry’s full explanation.

Since then, the dispute over county finances has intensified, with Roseberry and Pike County Treasurer Scott Syrcle offering differing assessments of the county’s financial position.

Roseberry has pointed to county audit information in arguing that Pike County was not operating at the level of deficit being alleged.

RiverNewsLive has now obtained a page from that audit, and the document raises questions about how portions of the audit are being characterized.

The page is titled “Funds Over Budget” and states that auditors found several county funds where actual expenditures exceeded the amount budgeted for the fiscal year.

For 2022, the audit lists the county’s General Fund as $219,761 over budget. County Highway and Equipment Rental was listed at $549,408 over budget, Recorder’s Special at $176,343 over budget, Court Systems at $99,285 over budget, IMRF at $68,936 over budget, Rabies at $46,172 over budget, Social Security at $35,193 over budget, and several additional funds at smaller amounts.

The audit recommended that Pike County investigate the causes of the funds being over budget and adopt appropriate future funding measures.

The status section states that the recommendation had “not been implemented and will be repeated in the future.”

County management acknowledged the finding and responded that it would work to correct the issue in the coming year.

The audit page does not, by itself, prove that Pike County operated at an overall year-end deficit. A fund exceeding its adopted expenditure budget is not necessarily the same thing as the county ending the fiscal year without sufficient revenue or reserves.

However, the document obtained by RiverNewsLive does not itself demonstrate an overall county surplus. Instead, it documents multiple instances where actual spending exceeded budgeted expenditures.

That distinction is becoming increasingly important as county officials continue debating the accuracy of Pike County’s financial reports, accounting procedures and overall financial condition.

The Clerk’s Office plays a direct role in county financial operations, including processing accounts payable and payroll, while the Treasurer’s Office is responsible for receiving, maintaining and disbursing county funds.

The disagreement between the two elected offices has become one of several points of tension inside Pike County government.

Roseberry is serving the remainder of her current term after announcing that she will not seek reelection. Her decision to withdraw herself and her staff from committee meetings has raised additional questions because much of the detailed financial, personnel and administrative work of the Pike County Board is discussed at the committee level before reaching the full board.

The situation also follows a separate controversy involving a contested unemployment claim totaling $10,314. County officials previously said a telephone hearing had been scheduled in that case, but the county was later notified that it had failed to participate and the claim was allowed.

RiverNewsLive is continuing to review the audit and other county financial records as the dispute develops and will report additional findings as they are verified.