UPDATE
CARTHAGE, Mo. — Whether or not Carthage Water and Electric (CWEP) is audited may not be up to Carthage City Council members.
A new law expanding the powers of the state auditor goes into effect in Missouri on Wednesday (8/28).
The law allows the accountant to audit all or part of a political subdivision, government agency, or its officers or employees.
The auditor no longer needs to obtain permission from boards or petition campaigns to initiate an audit. However, the new law does require a belief or implication that some form of improper activity has occurred.
In the event of a possible audit in Carthage, the Missouri Attorney General’s Office recommended conducting an audit of CWEP.
ORIGINAL
CARTHAGE, Missouri — A comprehensive financial audit of essential city services in Carthage is facing resistance at Tuesday’s (8/27) City Council meeting.
Several council members were vocally opposed to a proposed ordinance to hire an accounting firm to conduct a forensic financial audit of Carthage Water and Electric.
Councilman Alan Snow alleged that the in-depth audit was part of a personal vendetta between Carthage Mayor Dan Rife and Carthage Water and Electric (CWEP).
Snow went so far as to ask the mayor to resign for requesting a full investigation. Fellow council member Tiffany Cossey seconded the request.
Mayor Rife responded by saying the audit was recommended by the Missouri Attorney General’s office.
The council voted six to two against a forensic investigation into CWEP.
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