Chattooga County Commisison Andy Allen released a statement to residents outlining the condition of county government, highlighting recent improvements, ongoing financial concerns and plans aimed at strengthening operations in the coming year.
In the message, Allen said county departments have continued working to maintain services and infrastructure while dealing with operational and financial hurdles. He noted that employees across multiple departments have focused on improving efficiency and addressing long-standing issues.
Allen pointed to the work of the county’s Public Works Department, saying road crews have remained ahead of schedule while maintaining major county roadways and working to improve internal processes. He also said operations at the county’s transfer station have become more efficient after officials began hauling waste to a landfill located closer to Chattooga County, a move he said has helped lower transportation costs.
The commissioner also discussed developments within the county’s Water Department. According to the update, crews have spent months addressing a backlog of leaks and maintenance issues while also rebuilding two key wells to help stabilize water service for customers. Employees have additionally completed specialized training to better handle fire hydrant repairs and replacements.
Allen’s statement also addressed financial issues discovered during a recent audit review. Auditors examining county records reported that some accounting information from late 2023 through 2024 was incomplete or inconsistent. Those issues led to a discrepancy of more than $3 million between reported balances and the county’s general ledger.
Additional concerns noted during the review included deposits that had not been properly recorded, checks that were never deposited and incomplete documentation connected to certain payments and contracts.
To correct the problems, Allen said the county has hired an outside accounting consultant to assist with reconciling accounts and correcting financial records. The county is also transitioning its bookkeeping system to software from Harris Computer, which officials believe will improve financial tracking, reporting and transparency.
Allen said county leaders expect the 2024 audit to be finalized by April 10.
In closing, the commissioner thanked county employees for their work and said he remains confident about the county’s direction moving forward.
“We have dedicated staff and a community that cares deeply about the future of Chattooga County,” Allen said in the statement, adding that leaders remain focused on improving operations and strengthening accountability.
