Commissioners learn tax office audit won't be made public

By Curtis Chubb, Special to the Herald

The county tax office felony case and Rockdale recycling were the two primary discussion subjects for the Milam County Commissioners Court at their meeting on Monday.
On Jan 11, the commissioners court voted to have a formal agreement with the Austin-based accounting firm Atchley & Associates ready to consider at Monday’s meeting. The firm was being considered to perform a special audit of the Milam County Tax Assessor-Collector’s office. The special audit was requested by the commissioners court because of the plea bargain in which former tax assessor-collector Kolette Morgan pleaded no contest to attempted theft charges by a public servant.
The agreement letter was presented on Monday by Milam County Assistant Attorney John Redington. Redington first stated that the work performed by Atchley will be covered by attorney-client privilege. In fact, the agreement letter states, “Our report will contain a statement that it is attorney-client privilege work product and intended solely for the use of the Milam County/District Attorney’s Office…”

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