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<p>Luzerne County Controller Michelle Bednar briefed the county council on her audit work last week during an annual report required by the county&#8217;s home rule charter.</p><p>The office completed 20 audits last year, said Bednar, who took office in January 2014.</p><p>Six audits uncovered no findings, and several resulted in recommendations to adjust protocol, she said.</p><p>An audit of the county&#8217;s 2015 vehicle inventory found two insured vehicles that were no longer in service.</p><p>The administration&#8217;s response said vehicles can&#8217;t be removed from county insurance until they are sold due to liability concerns. The administration agreed to review vehicle usage annually and auction those that are out of service.</p><p>The office also analyzed the roster of property owners who received homestead tax breaks and developed a list of potential property owners wrongly receiving breaks beyond the allowable single primary residence. The assessor&#8217;s office is reviewing that list and plans to provide a plan for further action in May.</p><p>Bednar&#8217;s plans for 2016 audits include a review of county mail room department billing, payouts to former employees, Children and Youth payments and budget/finance protocol.</p><p>The annual report and audits are posted on the controller&#8217;s section of the county website, www.luzernecounty.org.</p><p>Bednar stressed the structure of the office changed with home rule&#8217;s implementation in January 2012 because county employees who process payment requests were relocated to budget/finance.</p><p>Home rule eliminated the controller&#8217;s power to stop outgoing payments.</p><p>&#8220;Keep in mind, without accounts payable in the controller&#8217;s office, we can only see what has been paid for after the fact,&#8221; Bednar wrote in the report.</p><p>Councilwoman Kathy Dobash suggested her colleagues consider a home rule charter amendment ballot question requiring the controller&#8217;s review of all outgoing payments and possibly the controller&#8217;s signature on checks.</p><p>Bednar said she would support new protocol allowing her office to provide a &#8220;second set of eyes&#8221; before payments are issued but does not believe the controller must have signature power.</p><p>Councilman Eugene Kelleher said requiring the controller&#8217;s participation in check signing could compromise the office&#8217;s independent review process.</p><p>Several council members suggested audits, such as a review of grants supplied by the county. The council has no authority to require particular controller audits, but Bednar said she will consider the feedback.</p><p>Councilwoman Eileen Sorokas asked Bednar if she has received tips from employees and the public through the office&#8217;s anonymous hotline.</p><p>Bednar said tips have dropped off, which she attributed to a lack of awareness.</p><p>The &#8220;Citizen and Employee Suggestion and Idea Line&#8221; can be accessed at 570-830-5154 or CESIL@luzernecounty.org.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Bednar </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_bednar.jpg</photo0><caption0>Bednar </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jennifer Learn-Andes</p><p>jandes@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Luzerne County controller briefs council on audit plans