City of Guthrie officials are addressing the rumors and misconceptions of why they are two years behind on their financial audits.
City Clerk Alison Blumel told Your WEKT News Edge that since taking the job in September 2018, the city was behind an audit, after Thurman Campbell Group, PLC scaled back its operations and was no longer able to handle the city as a client. Blumel was informed that the audit was due to the Department for Local Government by March 2019, it was not submitted until February 21, 2020.
The city hired Duguid, Gentry & Associates, PSC, based out of Hopkinsville. They handled the 2018, 2019, and 2020 audits, before staffing issues caused them to end its relationship with the city.
The city eventually found Baldwin CPAs, PLLC, out of Richmond, who recently completed the 2021 fiscal year audit. That audit was presented to city council members for approval during their February 2024 meeting.
Blumel added they are working with District 16 Representative Jason Petrie to get an extension from the Department of Local Government for the 2022 and 2023 audits. If they receive that extension, Baldwin’s staff said they can get caught up on the remaining audits before the end of this year.
Blumel reiterated the reason they are behind has nothing to do with any city employees, former Mayor Scott Marshall, or current Mayor Jimmy Covington. The backup in audits has delayed the city receiving funding to move forward with projects that were promised and could affect the expected $28 million for the new wastewater treatment facility.
The audit situation has only caused projects in which the city gets paid electronically through ACH payments to not move forward, the city is still receiving money through physical checks.
