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Audit Gives Good Marks to Hillsborough Sheriff's Office

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By RAY REYES | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 7, 2009

No blemishes were found in the daily operations and bookkeeping of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, according to an audit by an independent accounting firm.

During exit interviews, auditors from Ernst & Young found no problems in accounting procedures or financial records and "no material weakness" in how the agency is run, said sheriff's office administrator Col. Carl Hawkins.

"They basically gave us a clean bill of health," Hawkins said.

The final report will be completed in a few weeks, he said. Ernst & Young conducts two audits annually.

Auditors focused on the sheriff's office $362 million budget for the 2008 fiscal year, Hawkins said. The budget for fiscal year 2009 is $377 million.

Ernst & Young auditors could not be immediately reached for comment today.

The preliminary report is good news considering the problems plaguing the office of former Supervisor of Elections Buddy Johnson, said County Commissioner Rose Ferlita. Today, an internal audit revealed that there appears to be more than $2 million in cost overruns at the elections office.

"There are still some constitutional offices that shine," Ferlita said.

Auditors examined the sheriff's office operations and budget, including the agency's legal liability fund, its workers' compensation insurance fund and various grants and programs.

Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 259-7920.

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