Knox County Audit Finds Two Areas for Improvement
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By Echo Menges
EDINA, Mo. — Knox County’s latest financial audit shows the county’s finances in good shape overall, with no material weaknesses in internal controls, but auditors identified two statutory compliance issues and made two recommendations for improvement.
The 2023 audit, released Nov. 3 by State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick, found the county’s books accurate and properly maintained. The independent review, conducted by Stopp & VanHoy, CPAs and Business Advisors, gave the county a clean opinion under Missouri’s regulatory accounting system.
County financial audits are supposed to be performed every two years under state law to ensure public funds are managed properly and local officials comply with state budgeting and accounting requirements. The process reviews spending, fund balances, transfers, and debt while checking for potential mismanagement or weaknesses in oversight.
The audit covers Knox County’s 2023 financial activity under a prior county commission. Since then, the composition of the commission has changed, with new members taking office in 2024 and 2025.
Auditors highlighted two issues in Knox County’s 2023 records: Spending in two funds — the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation Fund and the Prosecuting Attorney Administrative Handling Cost Fund — exceeded the county’s approved budgets.
Transfers between several funds, including the Special Road and Bridge and Capital Improvement funds, did not balance correctly on paper.
County officials said both problems were the result of clerical oversight and plan to tighten reviews beginning in 2026.
The report found no evidence of financial mismanagement.
Knox County ended the year with about $2.5 million in cash on hand, an increase from the previous year.
The full audit report (No. 2025- 086) is available on the Missouri State Auditor’s website.
Fiscal year reviewed: 2023
Report released: Nov. 3, 2025
Overall audit opinion: Clean opinion on state regulatory accounting standards; Adverse opinion under U.S. GAAP (standard for Missouri counties)
Key findings: Expenditures exceeded approved budgets in two funds; Budgeted fund transfers did not balance correctly.
Financial snapshot (Dec. 31, 2023)
Total receipts: $4.07 million
Total disbursements: $3.5 million
Ending cash balance: $2.51 million (up from $1.94 million)
General Revenue Fund: $850,837
Special Road & Bridge Fund: $401,518
Outstanding debt: ≈ $786,000 (various lease-purchase and refunding agreements)
Next steps: County Clerk’s office to strengthen budget and transfer review processes beginning in 2026.
Note: The audit covers Knox County’s 2023 financial activity under a prior county commission. The commission’s membership changed in 2024 and 2025.
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