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By Bob Weaver
A bill for $26,915 has been received by the Calhoun Commission for a special audit
conducted by the office of State Auditor, Glen Gainer III. The audit was done at the
request of the West Virginia Supreme Court, after discrepancies were found in the
records of Magistrate Steve Johnson.
"This bill is an unexpected expense, and will create money problems for the county. I
think the Supreme Court should pay this bill," said Commission President Larry
McCallister.
A state official told the Calhoun Commission, even though the audit is linked to a
criminal investigation, county taxpayers must bare the expense, based on state
regulations.
Commissioner David Barr said "I will resist paying this bill, exploring every legal
avenue available."
Johnson resigned from his position last October and moved to South Carolina. A
special prosecutor, Robert William Schulenberg III from Kanawha County, was
appointed to investigate, but evidence for an indictment has yet to be presented.
Unconfirmed reports have surfaced regarding a plea bargain arrangement, but no
papers have been filed.
While the Calhoun Commission has no authority or control over magistrates, they pay
for annual audits of local magistrates, provide office space and pay phone bills.
The last regular audit cost county taxpayers about $7,000, the cost doubling within
one year. Coupled with the special audit, the county has now been charged $34,000
by the State of West Virginia by the Supreme Court. A small "kick-back" to help poor
counties was received this spring.
The routine Supreme Court audit indicated problems in Magistrate Johnson's office,
but the court apparently failed to take action at that time.
The Calhoun Commission has been forced to deal with numerous state mandates,
including a recent increase from $35,000 to $44,000 for state operated computer
services provided the Calhoun Assessor.
Calhoun Clerk Richard Kirby said "The State of West Virginia has also required the
county to pay about $1000 for a T-1 computer line and $275 a month for a company
to provide maintenance," on the Assessor's computer system. "There are no choices
here," he concluded.
The biggest burden on poor rural counties is paying for the regional jail system, with
Calhoun's bill sometimes reaching over $100,000. In recent months, the commission
has been able to reduce the bill.
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