LIHUE — Three audit reports show that Kauai County is still struggling with financial and record-keeping issues that have been raised in the past.
Honolulu-based accounting firm N&K CPAs, Inc. conducted the set of audits on transactions made during 2014. At least three of the five issues highlighted appeared in previous audits, the Garden Island reported Friday. Those issues include inaccuracies in purchasing procedures and mishandled employee time-off records.
“It’s de ja vu,” said County Council Chairman Mel Rapozo.
Auditors randomly inspected six departments and found that in 25 out of 60 records, vacation or sick leave hours contained discrepancies.
“Payroll is a very complex situation when it comes to government, because we have 21 (vacation days) and 21 (sick days) — that’s a lot of days off for a lot of employees,” said Council Vice Chairman Ross Kagawa.
The reports cite another issue involving errors in purchase card transactions. The cards are used for transactions that are less than $1,500. Errors include instances where there was no evidence that purchases were approved prior to being made and where approval was given after the purchase.
Assistant Chief Procurement Officer Ernest Barreira said officials have been addressing that problem by training employees on how to use them.