Dillon County Council Chairman Archie Scott says he's requested a copy of the county's bank statements from County Treasurer Jamie Calhoun Estes, but she won't give him a copy.
"The only way that we're going to be able to know exactly how much money that the county has as elected officials, is that we must see a copy of the bank statements or we must have a copy of the bank statements," said Scott.
He says Estes provides a monthly fund balance report, but it doesn't accurately show how much money is in the bank.
"When you look at the report, the report basically tells you, please note there are other people's money that are in escrow in these accounts," Scott said.
He says the county needs to allocate money to rehire a finance director who could circumvent the county treasurer.
Treasurer Estes provided NewsChannel 15 with a statement regarding Scott's concerns.
"As county treasurer it is my duty to make sure that the funds of not only the county, but all the agencies that I am a trustee of their funds are secure. The county has provided me with no security for my office building in which I am in; therefore, I have to protect this information and my staff to the best of my ability.
As county treasurer the accounts that I have to account for are mor than the county funds. I hold taxes collected for other agencies in those accounts that are not distributed until the following month or in some cases until requested. To give Mr. Scott a bank statement would be to give him an amount that is not all the county money and he has no way to know what the would be allocation for that month nor the amount of unclear checks or deposits."
Therefore, I provide council with a cash report by month that list funds for the county. I have discussed this with different council members and they have provided me with the information that they would like to see reported with the cash report and I have no problem working with council on any further information they that they make like that will help them in any decision making processes. I have invited Mr. Scott along with all the members of council to come to my office to see how we operate and to get any concerns worked out; however, he has not responded."
