No surprises here.
TDC Audit
- Thread starter j p nettles
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We should be grateful to the last bunch of incompetents that they didn't buy a boat, a house, motorcycles and some other stuff.
Uh... How do we know they didn't?
I thought that everyone who worked there past and present was golden? 
The TDC’s audit is back and commissioners heard from TDC Director Jim Bagby, Walton Clerk of Court and Comptroller Alex Alford and internal auditor Johnny Street. Alford said they did not find yachts. While this got a laugh, Alford said he was serious as they took a note from Okaloosa. With seven findings, Bagby said one they disagreed with, one issue was due to picking up a check and the other five items are being worked on or have been fixed. We will have a full review of the audit on a later broadcast. Bagby took time to give certificates of appreciation to Street and Alford, saying they appreciate anyone who helps them be better. The commissioners accepted receipt of the audit. Alford said they looked at the statutes on when the audit becomes public record and in the future will consider it public when it is presented to the commissioners. He said they should work towards anything that promotes transparency and gets the information out to the public quicker.
Under the TDC time, the Board approved seeking the Attorney General’s opinion of use of bed tax dollars outside of the TDC area, approved Preble-Rish for the Western Lake pedestrian bridge, approved money for artificial reef permitting, will provide half an FTE for a Kellogg’s Property nature guide and delayed action on a Friends of 30A transportation request. This matter concerns a possible 30A tram. Expect it to come back later. Commissioners approved the TDC’s Beach Safety Campaign strategy and the Beach Safety Document that manages the flags. The new flowchart of the TDC’s structure was presented. Bagby said the TDC is an $18.5 million business and they need a Chief Financial Officer. Bob Hudson, with Walton County Taxpayers Association, said he agrees with the new hire of the financial administrator. Commissioner approved the reorganization and the new position.
Art Miller, with the Institute for Senior Professionals, presented a look at the TDC. The group was asked by Bagby to look at five aspects. They talked to people associated with the TDC, bed tax collectors or other TDC type people. He said there are a lot of positive comments. Miller told the commissioners they are doing a lot of things right and looked at the revenue. The not-so-good news is a question of why the county needs a TDC. He said they should not be pondering that question, but they do need to communicate what the TDC does. He said the TDC does things the community is not aware of. Miller said they need to communicate better. The need of a visitor center in a computer age was another question. They suggested looking at options outside of the beach. This includes north of the bay, ecotourism and bike paths. Developing the off season is suggested. Staff team building and internal matters are being addressed. The study was done on a voluntary basis and did not cost the taxpayers.
Under the TDC time, the Board approved seeking the Attorney General’s opinion of use of bed tax dollars outside of the TDC area, approved Preble-Rish for the Western Lake pedestrian bridge, approved money for artificial reef permitting, will provide half an FTE for a Kellogg’s Property nature guide and delayed action on a Friends of 30A transportation request. This matter concerns a possible 30A tram. Expect it to come back later. Commissioners approved the TDC’s Beach Safety Campaign strategy and the Beach Safety Document that manages the flags. The new flowchart of the TDC’s structure was presented. Bagby said the TDC is an $18.5 million business and they need a Chief Financial Officer. Bob Hudson, with Walton County Taxpayers Association, said he agrees with the new hire of the financial administrator. Commissioner approved the reorganization and the new position.
Art Miller, with the Institute for Senior Professionals, presented a look at the TDC. The group was asked by Bagby to look at five aspects. They talked to people associated with the TDC, bed tax collectors or other TDC type people. He said there are a lot of positive comments. Miller told the commissioners they are doing a lot of things right and looked at the revenue. The not-so-good news is a question of why the county needs a TDC. He said they should not be pondering that question, but they do need to communicate what the TDC does. He said the TDC does things the community is not aware of. Miller said they need to communicate better. The need of a visitor center in a computer age was another question. They suggested looking at options outside of the beach. This includes north of the bay, ecotourism and bike paths. Developing the off season is suggested. Staff team building and internal matters are being addressed. The study was done on a voluntary basis and did not cost the taxpayers.
We need a TDC to promote the "plantation". The biggest contributor to local politicians needs to 'wet his beak'.
Some matters have already been taken care of. Others are in the process. One they have a disagreement about. But overall the county’s internal audit of the TDC is looked at as a way to help improve the organization. And there are no hidden yachts or homes. Here is a follow-up to the recent Walton County Tourist Development Council’s internal audit.
The financial audit was conducted by Walton County’s Internal Audit Department through Clerk of Courts and County Comptroller Alex Alford’s Office. Alford says the program accounts were reviewed from January of 2010 to October of 2012. They looked at the TDC’s internal controls to see of they are working properly and to make sure they were following the laws, rules, policies and procedures.
The report, already presented to and accepted by the Walton Commissioners, has an opinion the controls over the TDC revenue and expenditures were adequate during the audit period. The only exception is the area of document retention for a gift card program. This was a program to help bring tourists back after the BP oil spill. The TDC purchased 4,900 $250 gift cards, valued at $1,225,000 to be used for tourists who booked and paid for a minimum of a three night stay at certain rental locations. In addition they purchased 4,040 BP gas cards for a similar program. The audit says, because of inadequate documentation, the audit could not ensure the cards were distributed as intended.
Another area cited was with funding the Biophilia Center so it could stay open additional hours for visitors. The Audit said the facility is outside the TDC subcounty special taxing district and thus does not follow the State Statute. This matter continues to be looked at by the TDC and the County, both seeking legal opinions on how TDC funds can be spent to aid tourism. Part of the thought is the tourists want an expanded plate of opportunities in the area, sometimes outside of the TDC district. Since they are using these attractions to bring in tourists, many feel it is TDC destination marketing. TDC Director Jim Bagby says the matter should go through legal opinions, not the auditor opinion.
Other report notes include: using TDC dollars for the Turtle Watch monitoring and a Code Enforcement Officer; certain vehicle repairs, tests and maintenance tracking; an agreement with the Florida Department of Emergency Management signed by the director; the TDC gift shop not issuing receipts unless requested and not using the cash register properly; a TDC Plan not being updated; and splitting wine glass purchases into two orders to prevent going over the $25,000 spending limit.
Alford said they even looked for any spending such as a yacht, making the statement due to the problems with the Okaloosa County TDC recent issues. Bagby told the commissioners they welcome any help in improving the organization. The audit covered a period prior to Bagby’s time as TDC Director.
The financial audit was conducted by Walton County’s Internal Audit Department through Clerk of Courts and County Comptroller Alex Alford’s Office. Alford says the program accounts were reviewed from January of 2010 to October of 2012. They looked at the TDC’s internal controls to see of they are working properly and to make sure they were following the laws, rules, policies and procedures.
The report, already presented to and accepted by the Walton Commissioners, has an opinion the controls over the TDC revenue and expenditures were adequate during the audit period. The only exception is the area of document retention for a gift card program. This was a program to help bring tourists back after the BP oil spill. The TDC purchased 4,900 $250 gift cards, valued at $1,225,000 to be used for tourists who booked and paid for a minimum of a three night stay at certain rental locations. In addition they purchased 4,040 BP gas cards for a similar program. The audit says, because of inadequate documentation, the audit could not ensure the cards were distributed as intended.
Another area cited was with funding the Biophilia Center so it could stay open additional hours for visitors. The Audit said the facility is outside the TDC subcounty special taxing district and thus does not follow the State Statute. This matter continues to be looked at by the TDC and the County, both seeking legal opinions on how TDC funds can be spent to aid tourism. Part of the thought is the tourists want an expanded plate of opportunities in the area, sometimes outside of the TDC district. Since they are using these attractions to bring in tourists, many feel it is TDC destination marketing. TDC Director Jim Bagby says the matter should go through legal opinions, not the auditor opinion.
Other report notes include: using TDC dollars for the Turtle Watch monitoring and a Code Enforcement Officer; certain vehicle repairs, tests and maintenance tracking; an agreement with the Florida Department of Emergency Management signed by the director; the TDC gift shop not issuing receipts unless requested and not using the cash register properly; a TDC Plan not being updated; and splitting wine glass purchases into two orders to prevent going over the $25,000 spending limit.
Alford said they even looked for any spending such as a yacht, making the statement due to the problems with the Okaloosa County TDC recent issues. Bagby told the commissioners they welcome any help in improving the organization. The audit covered a period prior to Bagby’s time as TDC Director.