A clerical error is behind a resent audit discrepancy for the Russell County Sherrif’s Office.

The audit by the Kentucky Auditor’s office, caught the more than $700,000 owed to the Fiscal Court. The error was due to data not being saved, and resulted in an incorrect report that indicated zero receipts and expenditures, but was discovered by the quarterly audit. The error was not an indication of mismanagement, but the office has implemented review procedures to prevent the error from occurring again in the future, according to Russell County Sheriff Derek Polston.

The Russell County Fiscal Court is taking steps to possibly transition the Russell County Sheriff’s Office into a fee Pool System.

The subject of pooling the office is the result of the recent discussion by the Court to give the local Sherrif’s Office Hazardous Duty Retirement for deputies. Sheriff Polston has been working for several months to get retirement for the deputies. The pooling would have the office turn over all of the revenue generated by the Sherrif’s Office to the County Treasurer, and all expenses and invoices would have to be approved by the Fiscal Court.

Magistrates passed a motion on Monday that would have County Attorney Kevin Shearer to begin work drafting an ordinance that would transition the office to the fee pooling system. The ordinance would come before the court again at a future meeting and then need approval after the 2nd reading.