Auditor Galloway focuses on issues impacting small businesses in Missouri
Oct 5, 2016 | Community News |
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway met with leaders of the business communities in counties across northwest Missouri, including Darryl and Liz Wilkinson at the Gallatin Publishing Company on Wednesday, Sept. 28. Auditor Galloway discussed issues related to small business development and growth, including an ongoing follow-up audit of the Missouri Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board.
Auditor Galloway’s small business tour also included stops at Platte, Andrew and Buchannan counties as well as a tour of Missouri Star Quilting Company in Hamilton, located in Caldwell County. The two-day, eight-county trip also included stops in Atchison, DeKalb and Holt counties.
The tour is part of an effort to gather input from small business owners and entrepreneurs across the state to assist in a collaborative effort to make recommendations and improve operations and service of the Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board.
“No one knows small businesses better than the people who run them, and that’s why I’ve made it a priority to visit with business owners in their communities to get input on the issues that matter most to them,” Auditor Galloway said. “As we saw in the results of my audit, the Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board has been unable to fulfill its obligation to serve as an advocate for small business owners. We know it’s critical to the health of our economy that we promote an environment where small businesses can thrive, and that starts by making the regulatory process less burdensome, and getting input as we move forward with recommendations to improve the board’s operations.”
The Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board was created to serve as an advocate for small businesses across Missouri but has not fulfilled its obligations under the law, and has been plagued with issues that have undermined its effectiveness. In May, Auditor Galloway shared the results of an audit of the board, which found sub-par operations due to inadequate staffing, board vacancies and lapsed terms, and a general lack of support for the board’s statutorily required duties. Because the board received a rating of poor, the lowest available, a follow-up audit will be conducted to determine whether recommendations have been implemented.
To provide input or information for consideration during the course of the follow-up audit, contact the State Auditor’s Office at [email protected] or by calling 800-347-8597.
Auditor Nicole Galloway, CPA, is the 38th auditor of the State of Missouri. She is a certified public accountant and certified fraud examiner. Prior to becoming State Auditor, Galloway served as Treasurer of Boone County, and has worked in the private sector as a corporate auditor, accountant and actuarial analyst. She has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Missouri and degrees in Applied Mathematics and Economics from Missouri University of Science and Technology.
