State Auditor Finds Mismanagement of Sturgeon Cemetery Funds

Following a request by citizens, State Auditor Nicole Galloway Tuesday released an audit of the city of Sturgeon, giving the city a rating of fair and making recommendations to the city to address those concerns. The audit found the city improperly transferred two certificates of deposit from the Mt. Horeb Cemetery fund to the general revenue fund, dropping the cemetery fund balance from $177,000 at the end of fiscal year 2018 to $95,000 a year later. Interest from the fund is supposed to be used for the cemetery’s preservation, care, upkeep and adornment. The audit recommended that city reimburse the fund, and that cemetery fund assets are kept separate from other funds. The audit also found an incomplete city budget, inaccurate accounting records, and inadequate financial statements submitted to the Auditor’s Office. She says the city needs to strengthen its compliance with the Sunshine Law.