HB352--FINANCIALSTATEMENTSOFCERTAINLOCALGOVERNMENTS
(McGaugh)
COMMITTEEOFORIGIN:StandingCommitteeonLocalGovernment
Currently,countiesofthefirstclassification withoutacharter
formofgovernmentarerequiredtoprepareandpublishina
qualifiedpaperafinancialstatementforthepreviousyearbythe
firstMondayinMarch.
Thisbillrequiresallnon-chartercountiestoprepareandpublish
inaqualifiednewspaperafinancialstatementfortheprevious
yearbyJune30th.
Thefinancialstatementalsomustincludethename,office,and
currentgrossannualsalaryofeachelectedorappointedcounty
official.
Thecountyclerkorotherofficerresponsibleforthepreparation
ofthefinancialstatementmustpreservethedocumentsreliedupon
inthemakingofthefinancialstatementsandprovideanelectronic
copyfreeofchargetoanynewspaperrequestingacopyofthedata.
Newspapersareprohibitedfromcharginganymorethanthestandard
rateforadvertisingtopublishthesefinancialstatements.
Currently,anypoliticalsubdivisionthatfailstofilethe
requiredannualfinancialstatementwiththeStateAuditoris
subjecttoafine.Thisbillexemptsanypoliticalsubdivision
thathasgrossrevenuesoflessthan$5,000fromthatfine.It
alsoexemptsapoliticalsubdivisionfromthefineifthefailure
tosubmitthestatementisaresultoffraudorotherillegal
conductbyanofficeroremployeeofthepoliticalsubdivisionif
thefinancialstatementisfiledwithin30daysofthediscoveryof
thefraudorillegalconduct.
Ifapoliticalsubdivisionhasoutstandingfinesduewhenfiling
itsfirstannualfinancialstatementafterAugust28,2025,the
DirectoroftheDepartmentofRevenuewillmakeaone-timedownward
adjustmentofthetotalamountduebynolessthan90%.In
addition,theDirectorhastheauthoritytomakeaone-time
downwardadjustmenttoanyfineheorshedeemsuncollectible.
ThisbillissimilartoHB2571(2024).