East Central Reporter

The Shelby County Board has implemented a significant change in its HR policy, reversing a previous centralized system for tracking sick and vacation time. This move follows revelations of payroll inaccuracies within the Health Department, where records falsely indicated that an employee was working while on vacation.

Previously, the responsibility for tracking such times was centralized in the Treasurer’s office as per a 2019 HR policy. This centralization was advised by auditors to ensure accurate and transparent record-keeping.

Under the new policy adopted last week, department heads are now tasked with managing their respective departments' sick and vacation time. The county clerk handling payroll will rely solely on submissions from these department heads without independent verification. This decentralization removes prior checks and balances, potentially increasing vulnerability to fraud.

Concerns arise from past incidents where misrepresentation occurred within the Health Department's records. Auditors have previously pointed out that decentralized systems could pose risks of inaccuracies or fraudulent activities.

During public comment sessions before their election, members of the current county board expressed intentions to overturn existing practices. The recent policy shift reflects this agenda.

Further developments are expected as Shelby County continues to address these administrative changes.