Auditors Respond to Fairgrounds Fraud Release
Response to Sheriff Daryl Wheeler’s Press Release
I have been made aware of a statement released by Sheriff Daryl Wheeler regarding an investigation into embezzlement at the Bonner County Fairgrounds.
In that statement, he suggests that my office did not exercise appropriate oversight over the Bonner County Fair Board. This assertion is factually incorrect.
My office is not, and has never been, responsible for auditing fairgrounds expenses other than salaries and benefits, which are tax funded. All other operational expenses at the fairgrounds are funded by revenues generated at Fair events and are outside the purview of Bonner County’s internal auditors.
Likewise, Bonner County’s external auditors have never been tasked with substantive review of fairgrounds operational expenses in their annual audit.
Respectfully,
Michael W. Rosedale
Bonner County ClerkAssisted in drafting and agreed to by Prosecutor, Louis Marshall and Deputy Prosecutor, Bill Wilson
Read Report: Fairgrounds Fraud
Just another example of dysfunction at the county. Maybe it’s time to lease the Fairgrounds operation to a private entity? Maybe sell the land? Taxpayers have been subsidizing the Fair operations for years, according to Luke Omodt. Meanwhile, the person in charge was embezzling funds? Time for commissioners to consider a change of strategy.