A McLean County Board member is calling for greater accountability from the county's elected auditor after its annual audit was delayed for months.
On Tuesday, the board unanimously approved the 2024 external audit at a special meeting. The audit did not indicate any problems with county finances.
Val Laymon, who chairs the county board's finance committee, recommended the county take action after sharing several complaints about how the elected auditor, Michelle Anderson, runs the auditor's office.
“Not only putting in place target dates for basic actions of the office, but also seeing an increased level of accountability and pride in doing the great work for the people of McLean County so we do not experience the same conversation in nine months time,” Laymon told the board.
The audit, which was delayed for months beyond the state’s deadline, held up millions of dollars in property tax money for the county, forcing it to transfer funds to cover certain obligations, including to the Public Building Commission, the body that owns the McLean County Jail and Law and Justice Center.
Laymon referenced several complaints about the auditor’s office at Tuesday’s meeting, including the public being unable to reach the auditor during regular business hours, the auditor regularly missing board committee meetings — including one to explain her office’s 2026 budget request — and leaving a position in the auditor’s office vacant for more than a year.
“We’re seeing a lack of willingness and ability to show up in person for meetings,” said Laymon, adding she hopes the county can learn from these missteps by adding target dates for the when the county auditor should have certain tasks completed.
“We know that we cannot move forward in the same way that has landed us here today,” she said.
Anderson has been county auditor since 2009. In a statement to WGLT, Anderson said “I’m looking forward to 2025’s audit and continuing improved communication."
The audit itself, presented at Tuesday’s meeting by Sandy Perry from CliftonLarsenAllen, did not show any significant irregularities.
“We don’t find any issues. We do have some oral comments with management, but they are more suggestions for improvement as opposed to findings or issues,” Perry told the board.
