AUDIT: $2,000 UNACCOUNTED FOR IN ORAN

ORAN -- After a review of Oran's bookkeeping records and the last annual audit, city officials are still unsure as to the exact amount of money that may be missing.

Tom Urhahn, president of the board of aldermen, said he and three other members of the audit review committee were satisfied that less than $2,000 was still unaccounted for.

Former alderman Walt Madigan, who has called for a state audit of the city's records, said he will wait until after the next audit before forcing the issue.

The audit report for the fiscal year ending March 31 showed that $11,893 was missing and said there was a "lack of adequate records" to account for which city funds might be short.

Urhahn said the review, performed on a contract basis last month by accountant Vicki McLemore with the accounting firm of Stanley, Dirnberger, Hopper & Associates in Cape Girardeau, found that city collector Jean Neal was behind two to three months in making deposits at the end of the last fiscal year.

Urhahn said Neal made deposits in April and May that she showed on her monthly report to the board of aldermen as having been made before the end of the fiscal year.

The discrepancy showed up in the annual audit when the auditor reviewed financial information based on some of those same monthly reports.

Urhahan said members of the review committee think there will be an overage in the audit for this fiscal year because of the late deposits. He expects less than a $2,000 difference between the amount reported missing last year and the extra amount expected this year.

McLemore said the written report on her investigation should be completed by the end of the month. The city paid her firm $700 to do the review, which took longer than the expected 24 hours.

McLemore said the city's financial records are unaccountable to the extent that she can't give the city a definite number about how much money may or may not be missing.

"It was either one of two things: A cash shortage or clerical errors," McLemore said. "We can't prove it either way because of the lack of accountability in the records."

"We as a board knew Jean Neal well enough that she didn't take it," Urhahn said. "We've always known that the city needs better bookkeeping procedures."

As part of her review, McLemore worked with Neal to improve the city's record-keeping. The city collector is now making daily deposits anytime she has more than $50 on hand.

This will make it easier to find mistakes, Urhahn said. Daily and weekly records of receipts and disbursements can be checked for accuracy a lot easier than those done on a monthly basis.

Urhahn said the board will consider making the collector's position appointed, instead of elected. Neal's term expires in April 1996.

The city would need a special election this year to change the collector to an appointed position.

"If it was an appointed position, the city could interview candidates familiar with bookkeeping and computers," Urhahn said. "With a popular vote, someone may be elected who doesn't know anything about those topics."

Madigan said he sent 140 signatures to the state auditor's office last month asking for an audit. However, he only had 100 valid signatures from local voters and so needs another 19 to require the state audit, which is estimated to cost up to $12,000.

Madigan said he was going to continue seeking the other signatures for his state audit petition. The missing money should be found, but he will decide after the new audit whether the state should be involved in checking the city's records.