Comptroller finds pay issues in Polk County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office
No criminal activity, just questionable policies
BENTON, Tennessee (WDEF) – The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has found some concerns about how court employees are being paid in Polk County.
None of the findings are criminal; they just suggest reforms.
They audited the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office.
The Comptroller says the county was paying wages and benefits totaling $123,065.66 for time that wasn’t actually worked.
The report says the clerk allowed several employees to submit timesheets for 40 hour weeks, but didn’t require them to actually work that long.
Many got a day off each week and the office3 was closed for an hour everyday at lunch.
Investigators calculated that many only actually worked about 28 hours a week.
They say the county’s personnel policy states that a full-time employee must work at least 32 hours per week.
Here is how they break it down.
| Time Not Worked |
$27,024.44 |
| Unsupported Comp Time |
$1,943.51 |
| Annual Leave Taken |
$358.75 |
| Sick Leave Taken |
$347.05 |
| Insurance Provided |
$93,391.91 |
| Total |
$123,065.66 |
The audit also found that some employees got retirement benefits for working 40 hours, but should not have qualified for them because of working just 24 hours.
The state also suggested tighter control over a signature stamp for a judge.
“The Polk County Circuit Court Clerk should also discontinue the use of signature stamps in the office,” said Comptroller Jason Mumpower. “A signature stamp of a Polk County judge was improperly used by the clerk’s office on two expungement orders. Internal controls over the use of signature stamps are inherently weak, and state law does not provide authority for their use.”
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Polk County Circuit Court Clerk Employees Paid for Time Not Worked
An investigation by Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has found that employees within the Polk County Circuit Court Clerk’s office received wages and county-paid benefits totaling at least $123,065.66 for time not worked. |
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| The clerk allowed multiple employees to submit timesheets claiming 40 hours per week; however, the clerk regularly gave employees one day off each week. Furthermore, the clerk closed the office for one hour during lunch each weekday prior to January 2022. At the direction of the clerk, the employees only regularly worked 28 hours per week (calculated below).
40 hours (reported hours) – 8 hours (one day off) – 4 hours (lunch off clock) = 28 hours
The county’s personnel policy states that a full-time employee must work at least 32 hours per week. Full-time employment is required to receive annual leave, sick leave, compensatory time, and an option for insurance coverage by the county.
The Comptroller’s investigative report describes all of the benefits received but not earned. The amounts of these benefits are summarized below.
| Time Not Worked |
$27,024.44 |
| Unsupported Comp Time |
$1,943.51 |
| Annual Leave Taken |
$358.75 |
| Sick Leave Taken |
$347.05 |
| Insurance Provided |
$93,391.91 |
| Total |
$123,065.66 |
Seven circuit court clerk employees also improperly received a total of 108.92 of service credits with the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System. Because the employees were regularly working only 28 hours per week, they were not entitled to receive full-time service credits with TCRS.
“The Polk County Circuit Court Clerk should also discontinue the use of signature stamps in the office,” said Comptroller Jason Mumpower. “A signature stamp of a Polk County judge was improperly used by the clerk’s office on two expungement orders. Internal controls over the use of signature stamps are inherently weak, and state law does not provide authority for their use.”
To view the investigative report, go to tncot.cc/doireports.
Media Contact: John Dunn, Director of Communications, 615.401.7755 or john.dunn@cot.tn.gov. |
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