KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas – An investigation into Kaufman County Auditor Karen Cooper for alleged criminal wrongdoing in the county's auditor office has been concluded, according to a county official.
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The Texas Rangers investigated the case for more than two months and recently presented it to a Kaufman County grand jury which ultimately declined to indict Cooper on the allegations. Cooper's appointment as the county auditor has been on a temporary basis since April when District Judges Chitty and Tygrett temporarily extended her appointment pending the results of the investigation.
On Monday, June 9, 2014, District Judges Chitty and Tygrett held a special meeting and unanimously re-appointed Cooper as the county auditor for a term of two years commencing on June 10, 2014, at a salary of $76,930.70 per year.
With an appointment made, the Commissioners' Court accepted the annual financial audit for the fiscal year ending in September 2013 at a June 9 meeting. The county audit report was given an “unmodified” rating by accounting firm Patillo, Brown & Hill, L.L.P. Of Waco, Texas, which is the highest rating a government agency can receive.
“Kaufman County is in much better shape now than back in 2011 when the fund balance was a negative $1.6 million,” Kaufman County Judge Bruce Wood stated in a press release today. “We cannot and will not go down that path again. We must remain vigilant as a county to ensure we make certain our financial condition does not deteriorate to that point ever again.”
A final report released by the accounting firm indicated a final fund balance of $1,791,162 in the General Fund – an increase of $653,816. The Road and Bridge Fund also increased by $214,468 to $1,469,014.
Cooper spoke about the allegations in this follow-up story on inForney.com.
On Monday, June 9, 2014, District Judges Chitty and Tygrett held a special meeting and unanimously re-appointed Cooper as the county auditor for a term of two years commencing on June 10, 2014, at a salary of $76,930.70 per year.
With an appointment made, the Commissioners' Court accepted the annual financial audit for the fiscal year ending in September 2013 at a June 9 meeting. The county audit report was given an “unmodified” rating by accounting firm Patillo, Brown & Hill, L.L.P. Of Waco, Texas, which is the highest rating a government agency can receive.
“Kaufman County is in much better shape now than back in 2011 when the fund balance was a negative $1.6 million,” Kaufman County Judge Bruce Wood stated in a press release today. “We cannot and will not go down that path again. We must remain vigilant as a county to ensure we make certain our financial condition does not deteriorate to that point ever again.”
A final report released by the accounting firm indicated a final fund balance of $1,791,162 in the General Fund – an increase of $653,816. The Road and Bridge Fund also increased by $214,468 to $1,469,014.
Cooper spoke about the allegations in this follow-up story on inForney.com.