Audits and appointments in Hood River County

County Finance Director Sheri Patterson and Auditor Jessica Luther-Haynes presented on the 2024 Fiscal Year Audit, which was filed on time and received mostly unmodified opinions. An executive summary of the audit highlighted four instances of noncompliance, some of which were due to previous years when the county fell behind on audits resulting in inaccurate year-over-year information.

Noncompliance issues included inaccurate historical information from one year to another and a lack of documentation showing formal bids relating to the county fair. The county also “expended funds in excess of appropriations” in the General Fund, 911 Communications Fund, and Federal Forest Fees Funds, according to the report.

Important to note is that the LB-1, a projected budget given to the press to print for the public, did not agree between June 30, 2023, and June 30, 2024. This was accredited to the county’s late audits, but the issue should not persist now that all audits are up to date and have been filed on time.

Committee appointments

After submitting an application and resume to the board, applicants for various committees within the county interviewed with the board either in person or via Zoom. The following appointments were made:

• Chris Robuck, District 1 Budget Committee

• Joseph Betzing, at-large Budget Committee

• James Loomis, at-large Fair Board

• Ruth Chausse, equestrian representative Recreation Trails Committee

• Mark Chamley, runner/hiker representative Recreation Trails Committee

• Corey Hoffman, at-large Recreation Trails Committee

• Nathan DeVol, Mt Hood Economic Alliance Board

• Jay Lyman, at-large Planning Commission

• Erick von Lubken, at-large Planning Commission

Applicants not chosen were encouraged to continue applying for future openings.