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Audit highlights PTO controversy [St. Joseph News-Press, Mo. :: ](St. Joseph News-Press (MO) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Feb. 21--The Chicago-based accounting firm of Bell and Associates gave Buchanan County a passing grade for its most recent financial audit. Nancy Nash, the county auditor, said she was pleased that there were no discrepancies. The county commissioners also noted that the audit shows that employees have substantial compensatory time. At the end of 2012, the audit showed the county's liability for vacation, holiday and comp time was $2.3 million. This is the unfunded liability the county faces, said R.T. Turner, the presiding commissioner. It's the reason commissioners are considering adding short- and long-term disability insurance, Mr. Turner said. With the disability insurance, the county commissioners are also looking at ending the current compensatory time policy and moving to a more restrictive PTO system. This policy would also give employees more flexibility in taking vacation or sick days off, Mr. Turner said. However, the commissioners haven't schedule any vote on the PTO issue for the last week in February. Previously, Mr. Turner had indicated he'd like to see the issue resolved by March 1. All three commissioners are scheduled to be in their office throughout next week. County employees have declined to speak on the record to the News-Press, but in private have expressed vocal dissatisfaction with the new plan. Marshall White can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPWhite. ___ (c)2014 the St. Joseph News-Press (St. Joseph, Mo.) Visit the St. Joseph News-Press (St. Joseph, Mo.) at www.newspressnow.com/index.html Distributed by MCT Information Services |