THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, December 2, 1995 TAG: 9512020574
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY MASON PETERS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HERTFORD LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
A ``financial crisis'' is facing the Albemarle Commission, and its attorney and executive director Friday asked the North Carolina State Auditor for help with the agency's accounting problems.
``They seem to be out of money but it's apparently as a result of faulty bookkeeping,'' said Ralph Campbell, the auditor in Raleigh.
``I want to emphasize that we have not been asked to investigate - only to help develop a new accounting system,'' said Campbell. ``We've referred them to agencies that may assist them in the present financial crisis.''
Hal Walker, Albemarle Commission executive director, asked Dwight Wheless, a Dare County attorney who represents the economic panel, to make the overtures to Campbell.
The 10-county Albemarle Commission is supported by joint funding pro-rated among the counties that it represents. The activities of the commission cover a broad range of assistance in the form of research as well as direct developmental aid.
Walker released a statement Friday after Campbell confirmed that he had received the call for help.
``The Albemarle Commission executive committee met Thursday evening to discuss with the executive staff a possible readjustment of indirect costs allocated by the commission to its various programs and other budget-savings recommendations,'' the statement said.
``The need for more frequent adjustments in `indirect costs' was emphasized in order to relieve pressure on the general fund of the commission,'' Walker's statement said.
``Among the suggestions was to request the assistance of the state auditor. The meeting was also attended by the commission's independent auditor, Linda Sharpe, C.P.A., who made suggestions.''
Walker did not reveal how much money was involved in the shortfall, but in discussing the request to the state auditor for help, Campbell said ``they apparently just ran out of money.''
Walker said the commission was anxious to improve the way travel, salary, and some other expenses were charged to different accounts.
``We want to prevent any misallocation such as charging the wrong account,'' Walker said.
``We think we can improve and simplify our bookkeeping and we felt it was logical to ask the state auditor to lend his expertise.''
This is the second time in two years that Campbell has been call upon to untangle the Albemarle Commission's finances.
Two years ago the auditor investigated charges that improper expense account charges had been turned in to the Albemarle Commission. A former executive director was subsequently dismissed, Campbell said. by CNB