BRANCHVILLE - Branchville received an "unqualified," or clean opinion, in its 2006 audit report. The town finished the year with a net increase in its general fund of $49,823.

While the town had a loss in its water and sewer department, it decreased the losses in that area from the previous year by about $8,000.

Auditor Lori Salley, representing C.C. McGregor, discussed the portion of the audit that addressed "significant deficiencies." She noted the term was somewhat misleading, because it really indicates only the slight possibility for there to be a misstatement of accounts. Among the issues was segregation of duties due to there being only one employee handling funds, which Salley noted was the general condition of many towns the size of Branchville. Salley went on to say the town's policy of council approving expenditures and the mayor signing checks provides adequate oversight.

One area the auditor noted as a concern involves the town giving employees advances on their pay without having a written policy in place concerning how funds will be recouped. Council members voted to suspend the practice until a policy could be developed.

In other business, council:

* Discussed the need to update its business license fee structure. A work session will be held to allow council members to review other town's fee structures and decide how Branchville wants to proceed.

* Discussed the possibility of a millage increase for the new budget year, beginning in January 2008. Mayor Tim Cooner said the town's millage rate is currently 66 mills and has been for the last eleven years. A two-mill increase will bring in approximately $3,060 in new revenue for the town.

* Heard Cooner express his displeasure at the cleanup work supplied by the S.C. Department of Transportation in preparation for the upcoming Raylrode Daze Festivul. Cooner reported that three town workers cleaned most of the portion of U.S. 78 through Branchville in a day, while seven SCDOT workers "barely cleared" a few blocks. Cooner said he plans to send a letter to Buck Limehouse, SCDOT executive director.

T&D Correspondent Phyllis A. Overstreet can be reached by e-mail at paovestreet@bellsouth.net. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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