Tax Dollars In Question: Camden County Budget Under Scrutiny As Leaders Request State Audit

CAMDEN COUNTY, Mo. — Camden County could soon be facing a state audit after the local Commission and Representative Jeff Vernetti have shared concerns about the allocation of tax dollars.

"It is critical that we make sure government at every level is run with transparency and the utmost efficiency," Vernetti said in a letter penned to Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick. "With the county in the process of finalizing their 2026 budget, at the very least a fiscal audit is urgently and immediately requested."

Vernetti, the State Rep for District 123, says residents are concerned about how their tax dollars are used, especially those directed toward the Sheriff's department and the County Road & Bridge department.

The Commission, headed by Ike Skelton, is attempting to make sure funds are not only used properly, but that there is full transparency in every Camden County department.

"There has not been a state audit of Camden County in more than a decade, and one is certainly needed to maintain confidence in county government," Vernetti said.

Skelton said the Commission has been asking many questions since at least his second year, stemming from a 1/2 percent sales tax that voters approved in 2007. Skelton recently told a group of business owners that the 2007 tax was supposed to be earmarked for the Road & Bridge Dept., but in reality it has only been receiving 5-6% of those revenues, according to county documents.

Skelton said the budget numbers don't add up.

"For instance, there is a $17 million swing in estimated revenue one year," Skelton said. "It appears that Road & Bridge has been getting the smallest piece of the pie for 17-some years." He believes R&B may have been deprived of up to $40 million during that time—money that was supposed to go towards county roads but was allocated to other departments.

Skelton assured residents that there is no crisis, but serious realignment will occur to address the issue.

"Our role, after the request, is to ensure folks comply and to direct the audit to focus on budget numbers," Skelton said. "The Commission will get this fixed."

The next Commission budget meeting is Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 10 a.m. where they will discuss reappropriating revenues from the Use Tax and the 2007 1/2 Cent Sales Tax.

Read Vernetti's full letter, below.

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