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every county government office in Utah

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is unique because all are run by elected

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officials chosen by their community each

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has an important job and function as

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they work together to provide citizens

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with a variety of useful services let's

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visit the county auditor's office to see

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what they do think of the county auditor

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as an independent control or voice that

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represents every citizen ensuring that

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county funds are properly spent and

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accounted for in most counties the

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county auditor with some help from the

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county treasurer functions much the same

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as a chief financial officer would in

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the private sector they oversee all

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money received and distributed by the

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county to provide a wide variety of

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important services to the community this

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involves carefully reviewing and

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approving all vouchers requisitions and

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purchase orders watching especially for

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things that are either new or different

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than normal if they spot something that

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is out of the ordinary the county

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auditor

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can pause the process to gather more

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information before moving ahead another

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duty is to oversee special funding and

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called bonds which are used to pay for

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big County projects such as buildings

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transportation needs and other things

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for the community some types of bonds

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require a vote of the people but bond

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financing ensures that the citizens who

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utilize these new projects pay for them

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equally over time auditors also play an

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important role in Utah's property tax

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system they certify the official tax

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rates and submit them to the state tax

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Commission in July they send valuation

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notices to property owners giving them a

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preview of what their property tax bill

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will be in November these notices also

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include information about due dates and

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appeal options along with that auditors

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in most counties act as a clerk for

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property tax appeals heard by the County

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Board of Equalization who makes final

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rulings and the auditor also handles

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property tax relief requests called

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circuit breakers and abatements from

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landowners who qualify based on

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disability income age or military

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service the county auditor is

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responsible for

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forming internal financial and fraud

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related audits this requires monitoring

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internal controls that safeguard public

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money in these audits the auditor acts

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as the citizens watchdog to ensure funds

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are utilized appropriately in addition

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to financial audits the executive branch

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may request performance audits be

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conducted of county departments

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performance audits measure whether or

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not a department is meeting the goals

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outlined by the county in these audits

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the executive branch sets the scope and

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criteria of the audit and the auditor

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acts as an independent investigator to

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see if required goals are being met

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finally in most counties the auditor

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acts as the budget officer they review

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financial trends make recommendations

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for upcoming expenditures projected

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revenues monitor the current year budget

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make adjustments throughout the year and

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provide public notice of the budget

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process the auditor is just one of many

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important offices at your County but

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without their expertise and managing all

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of the finances it would be difficult

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for counties and all the services they

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provide to run efficiently and

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accurately for the citizens they serve

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counties are a key part of every

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community uniting local people with

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solutions to meet local needs we're the

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Utah Association of counties the

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unifying voice for county government

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you