Audit ignored

Several months ago I prepared a request to the county's audit services group asking that an audit of the workers compensation department be conducted related to questions that I had on the expenditure of workers compensation reserve dollars on Hernando County Fire's equipment.

I have also questioned the transfer of workers compensation reserve funds in the amount of $3 million to the Hernando County Firemen's Presumption Liability Fund. My question was did anyone make sure that no taxpayer's dollars paid from Spring Hill, Hernando Beach and High Point Citizens, who fund their own fire departments and should not fund the Hernando County Fire Department, funded this transfer?

The clerk of court indicated in a letter to me that it was OK to use workers compensation reserve funds to purchase the Hernando County fire equipment.

I disagree.

I believe it is written in the budget policy that purchases out of reserve funds must go to the county commission for approval. This purchase did not.

Also, as far as I know, there has been no analysis performed to make sure that only Hernando County taxpayers funded the Hernando County Firemen's Presumption Liability.

Linda Hayward

Brooksville