Oklahoma County officials disclosed this week that a recent accounting review uncovered a shortfall of about $10 million in the county’s reserve fund, which was previously reported to hold $14 million. The discrepancy stems from a bookkeeping error discovered in the Clerk’s Office earlier this year.
Budget team investigates the gap
The Budget Evaluation Team spent nearly three hours on Wednesday reviewing the numbers. Team member Joe Blough explained, “In our meeting we discussed the found $14 million and how it wasn’t really $14 million. Today we’re discussing an issue where we appear to have $11 million less in revenue than what you told us in the spring when we built our budget.”
County Commissioner Paul Foster, interim commissioner for District 3, expressed concern about the reliability of the figures, asking, “These numbers have changed from what it seems like on a daily basis, and you’re finding new errors… How do we, as a body, make recommendations from the budget board when we can’t be confident in numbers?”
Clerk’s office responds
County Clerk Maressa Treat issued a statement acknowledging the adjustment. “As we prepared the September supplemental budget, our team took a hard look at the numbers, identified several adjustments that needed to be corrected and made those adjustments. Together, those changes reduce our estimate of available funds by approximately $10 million, but at this time all the county’s approved budget requests remain fully funded,” Treat said.
She added that she inherited an office with “outdated systems and processes” and has been working to modernize them. “My approach is simple: find it, own it and fix it. I would rather our team find a problem, put it on the table, and correct it than allow it to carry forward. We’re going to keep strengthening our processes, adding safeguards and building a finance operation the county can rely on,” she said.
Implications for upcoming tax measure
County officials noted that the shortfall could affect a sales‑tax proposal slated for the November ballot, which would fund the new Oklahoma County Detention Center. Multiple sources said they are watching the situation closely as the budget team prepares a final figure.
The Budget Evaluation Team will reconvene on Tuesday to receive the clerk’s final numbers and determine next steps. Despite the accounting hiccup, the county maintains that all current budget programs remain fully funded.
What’s next?
County leaders have pledged greater transparency and tighter financial controls moving forward. The clerk’s office also terminated its financial advisor this week as part of the effort to overhaul its financial management practices.
Residents can expect further updates as the budget team finalizes its assessment and as the November tax measure heads to the ballot.
Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
