MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Auditors with the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office arrived in Memphis on Monday as they step in to help solve ongoing issues at the Shelby County Clerk’s Office.

Seven people arrived for an introductory meeting. Four or five of them will be “dedicated to the process” in Memphis indefinitely.

The state comptroller’s office announced last week that auditors would be working with Clerk Wanda Halbert’s office to get tax reports in order.

“I have no confidence in the Clerk’s Office to manage its affairs without outside intervention,” Comptroller Jason Mumpower said last week.

County Trustee Regina Newman told county commissioners that she called state officials for help because the clerk’s office hadn’t submitted correct reports since a wheel tax increase went in effect in July, and reports had been late for two fiscal years.

That could put the whole county budget process in jeopardy.

“I consider us to be past the point of no return. We’re seven months into the fiscal year and we don’t know what the clerk is bringing in, and that is the second-highest revenue-producing office in the county,” Newman said last week.

The comptroller’s office says they are here until all reports are correct and the county can put together its budget.