Okaloosa County plans to hire a compliance officer in 2014 to improve internal financial controls.
The new position is in response to several findings in the state’s audits of the Tourist Development Council and the County Commission.
The compliance officer will work out of County Administrator Ernie Padgett’s office.
“This person will conduct reviews for compliance of internal policies, procedures and practices,” Padgett said.
The position is expected to help bridge the gap between county departments and the Clerk of Courts Office, which oversees the county’s finances.
“This compliance officer will be doing a lot of in-house work with our 14 departments to make sure when we hand off to the clerk’s office … that they’ll have a cleaner package to work with,” Padgett said.
Commissioner Wayne Harris voiced support for the new position, adding that the county “should have done this years ago.”
“I’m in favor of it very much so,” Harris said. “I think it’ll keep our butt out of trouble.”
County officials plan to fill the position sometime before March, which is the deadline the State Auditor General’s office set for re-evaluating the TDC.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Kari C. Barlow at 850-315-4438 or kbarlow@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KariBnwfdn.