MEMPHIS, Tenn. — After the state comptroller’s office stepped in to help clean up records at County Clerk Wanda Halbert’s office, Shelby County commissioners are taking action to make sure the budget is up to date.

County leaders said the clerk’s office failed to record an increase in the wheel tax put into place last year, and the inaccuracies jeopardized their ability to craft a county budget.

An audit by the state comptroller’s office revealed several problems and led to a list of recommendations to help the clerk’s office manage money. 

County commissioners on Wednesday considered a resolution requesting the clerk submit a “corrective action plan” addressing the state’s recommendations, and explain why the office is “not adhering” to the findings, according to meeting agenda documents.

The comptroller’s office said Halbert’s office should reach out to its software vendor in order to utilize the software to its full capabilities.

Auditors also noticed issues like reconciliations not being performed, a signature stamp being used on checks, employees deleting their own transactions without authorization, and more they need to fix.

They also recommended the clerk’s office reach out to the county technical assistance service to help implement the recommendations made in the auditors’ report.

In response to the audit, Halbert said that she did not hear about the increase in the wheel tax that county commissioners approved last July until a couple of weeks after it happened, and it took some time for her office to begin collecting the money.

Halbert will be asked to appear before the commission on May 1, Commissioner Mick Wright said.

The resolution passed a county committee with a favorable recommendation Wednesday.