'Incompetence and willful neglect': TN comptroller sending team to address issues with Shelby Co. Clerk

Brooke Muckerman and Corinne S Kennedy, Memphis Commercial Appeal
Updated ·2 min read
Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert hands a document to reporter Brooke Muckerman during an interview with The Commercial Appeal in her office in Memphis, Tenn., on Friday, January 5, 2024.
Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert hands a document to reporter Brooke Muckerman during an interview with The Commercial Appeal in her office in Memphis, Tenn., on Friday, January 5, 2024.

The Tennessee Comptroller's Office will be sending a team to Shelby County to "perform the necessary reconciliations and reporting the Clerk's Office has failed to accurately provide despite repeated requests," the office announced Tuesday.

"The evidence of incompetence and willful neglect by management in the Shelby County Clerk's Office is overwhelming," Comptroller of the Treasury Jason E. Mumpower wrote in a letter. "I have no confidence in the Clerk's Office to manage its affairs without outside intervention."

The move comes after the Shelby County trustee told commissioners she will be un-posting revenue reports from the Shelby County Clerk's Office because incorrect reports have not been reconciled.

The inaccurate revenue reports have resulted in the county not being able to know if Shelby County is hitting wheel tax revenues near the forecasted amount. The inaccurate reports also mean the county is behind on payments to public schools.

Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert stands next to a line of people waiting to be helped while giving a tour of the clerk’s office to The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tenn., on Friday, January 5, 2024.
Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert stands next to a line of people waiting to be helped while giving a tour of the clerk’s office to The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tenn., on Friday, January 5, 2024.

Shelby County Trustee Regina Newman said last week that the comptroller's office had been contacted about the issues at the clerk's office.

What did the comptroller say?

In the letter sent to Mayor Lee Harris and the Shelby County Commission, Mumpower also said he had deep concern and a lack of confidence "related to the financial and operational management of the Shelby County Clerk's Office."

He added that without further action, the ability of the county to pass the fiscal year 2025 budget is in jeopardy. Mumpower also said he expected Halbert and all clerk's office staff to welcome and cooperate with the audit team being sent to the county.

Commissioner Mick Wright posted the letter on Twitter.

More: Current state of affairs in the Shelby Co. Clerks office, Halbert response to investigation

In a statement to The Commercial Appeal, Wright said he was hopeful the comptroller's intervention would give the county the information needed to accurately project financials as the county heads toward budget season.

"I also noticed in particular that the comptroller used the phrase 'willful neglect,' which is the standard we must meet to successfully oust Clerk Halbert from office," he said. "I still believe it would be better for Ms. Halbert, and for all of us, if she were to resign. Short of that, I will continue to pursue every available option to remove her and to restore that office to responsible leadership."

Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert and her office remain under a separate investigation by the Hamilton County District Attorney's office due to months of issues with revenue reports, long lines at offices and unpaid rents at office locations, among other persistent issues. Wright also said he hoped the comptroller's audit team would be able to assist with that investigation.

Neither Halbert nor the Hamilton County DA's office were immediately available for comment.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Tennessee Comptroller's Office sending team to assist Shelby Co. Clerk