Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector [SA&I] Cindy Byrd today released her forensic audit report for the Town of Bradley in Grady County. Auditor Byrd launched the investigation after receiving a citizen petition from Bradley residents.
The petitioners requested a review of the Town’s records between July 1, 2018 and December 31, 2020.
“Small towns run on tight budgets,” Auditor Cindy Byrd said. “Minor financial mismanagement can have catastrophic consequences for the citizens who depend on Town services. While the dollar amounts cited in this audit report might seem trivial, they highlight the Board’s failure to provide proper oversight and accountability.”
Among the problematic findings are:
Expenditures
- None of the 78 expenditures reviewed was formally approved by the Board.
- Due to inadequate documentation, auditors could not determine whether 58 of the 78 expenditures tested served legitimate municipal purposes.
- Two $500 payments, described as scholarships, were issued without Board approval. One scholarship went to a relative of the Mayor and the other to a relative of an individual performing services for the Town.
- A former Town Clerk provided the mayor with signed blank checks.
Revenue
- More than $3,000 in cash received from Community Center rentals and senior meal donations was not deposited. Instead, rental revenue was treated as petty cash and spent without formal approval or oversight by the Town Board.
Town Election
- The elections for three trustees were improper but were not challenged within the statutory authorized three business day period.
- The number of votes cast in both the Board and Clerk/Treasurer races exceeded the number of registered voters present.
Open Records & Open Meetings Acts
- The Town failed to provide notice of regularly scheduled Board of Trustee meeting dates for calendar years 2018, 2019, and 2020.
- The Board failed to hold meetings on a monthly basis.
- Agendas and minutes could not be provided for eight meetings.
- The Town violated the Open Records Act by not responding to requests in a timely manner.
“When elected leaders fail to conduct business properly, it undermines transparency and public trust,” said Auditor Byrd. “The Board should take immediate actions to comply with legal requirements. This includes implementing standardized procedures, training responsible personnel, and adopting tools to ensure accurate and consistent recordkeeping. Stronger transparency and accountability will help prevent future problems.”
The findings of this forensic audit have been turned over to the Grady County District Attorney’s Office.
This is the 103 audit released by Cindy Byrd this fiscal year.
The full audit is posted here on the Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector’s official website.
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