We The People of Gloucester County Demand a Forensic Audit of County Finances

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The Issue

When we pay our taxes, we're meant to be investing in our community's future. I've watched helplessly as our taxes have continually risen year after year without any discernible improvement in our services or infrastructure. Our traffic is getting worse, water main breaks have become a routine event, and our children's schools are desperately in need of renovations (in at least one case, full replacement). Despite paying more, we have less to show for it. Where is our money going?

Recent experiences have made it clear to me that something is fundamentally amiss with our county's financial management. The utilities I've trusted to provide essential services fail almost daily now, schools are visibly falling apart, and our public amenities are a shadow of what they should be. It's why I call upon each and every one of you who has endured similar frustrations to join me in demanding accountability from our county leaders.

I propose that the Board of Supervisors carry out an independent forensic audit of the entire county's financial records, to include the school board's budget, across the past five years. This measure will expose any hidden inefficiencies or mismanagement and pave the way for genuine reform in how our funds are allocated.

Financial audits can uncover misuse of public funds and structural inefficiencies which, if corrected, can result in a more fiscally responsible government. Several other counties that authorized similar audits have discovered millions in misallocated funds that have since been redirected to enhance public services and school programs.

Our leaders owe it to us to demonstrate responsible stewardship of our community's funds. An independent forensic audit is not just necessary—it's overdue. Such transparency will rebuild public trust and ensure that every tax dollar is used efficiently for the community's benefit.

Join me in this critical initiative and help bring about true accountability in our county. Sign this petition to compel our Board of Supervisors to take action and conduct a comprehensive forensic audit of our county's finances. Let’s work together to ensure our tax dollars are accounted for, and our community receives the support and services it deserves.

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Lisa ReidPetition Starter
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The Decision Makers

Gloucester County Board
7 Members
1 Responded
Joseph Leming
Joseph Leming
Gloucester County Board - Petsworth
“Although my reasons for not moving forward were characterized at the "town hall" as "excuses" - there are in fact several reasons not to use our taxpayer dollars for a retrospective forensic audit at this time. These include but are not limited to the following: 1.) A forensic audit would be cost prohibitive. * The average bid to conduct a forensic audit was more than $400,000. * The bids of some of the most qualified firms were more than $1,000,000. * The charges did not include travel and other expenses (some of the firms were out of state). Note: None of these numbers includes the indirect cost to the taxpayers of staff time that would be needed to facilitate such an audit. 2.) A forensic audit is unlikely to reveal any significant misuse or misappropriation of funds or missing funds. * No need has been demonstrated for a County forensic audit as there has been no specific allegation of mishandling, misappropriation, or misuse of public funds. The push for a forensic audit appears to be motivated by a general distrust of government, which, although understandable, is not warranted as it pertains to Gloucester County finances. * An independent audit of the County's finances is conducted on a yearly basis by an independent audit firm (Robinson, Farmer, Cox Associates). * The independent audit is conducted pursuant to state law requirement (Va. Code S 15.2-2511). * The yearly independent audit report, once prepared and presented to the Board, is required to be open to public inspection at all times by any qualified voter. * The last five yearly independent audits conducted of the County's finances revealed no misappropriations or missing funds; each required audit report came back as a "clean audit". * The cost to the County of the independent audit performed by Robinson, Farmer, Cox conducted for the last fiscal year (July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026) was $95,000. * Upcoming audits will be performed by a different accounting firm. 3.) A forensic audit is likely to unjustifiably undermine County staff morale. * Forensic audits are typically associated with an accusation of wrongdoing and the mishandling or misappropriation of funds. There is no evidence or substantiated allegation of mishandling, misuse, or misappropriation of public funds by County staff. A forensic audit would or could be perceived as such an accusation without reasonable basis. 4.) Several key County positions involved in finance have recently changed, including the County Administrator, both Deputy County Administrator positions, County Finance Director and Purchasing Agent. A forensic audit looks backward and generally, not forward; and any possible irregularities revealed by such an audit involving any of these positions would not be of much value going forward. 5.) The yearly audit and County records involving revenues, expenditures, appropriations, procurement, contracts, and other financial records are available for public inspection pursuant to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act; and, when requested, those records have been and will be provided. 6.) County Finance is transitioning to new software. * Currently, several/most County departments utilize a modernized/relatively new software system (Tyler Munis) which makes more efficient and streamlined County records and services. Finance will be transitioning to this new software System beginning in January 2027. The current, antiquated, software system utilized by Finance would make problematic a forensic audit in that it would involve a significant expenditure of County staff time and resources in providing all records associated with such an audit on an expedited basis, as such records could be provided if and when Finance utilizes the new software system. As such, the forensic audit would involve expenditures above and beyond those included in the bid price for the audit. * Any process deficiencies associated with utilization of the current software system by Finance are likely to be resolved by virtue of use of the new software system. 7.) The conduct of a forensic audit may result in an expectation of future forensic audits, each with its associated costs, using taxpayer funds which could and should be better utilized for other purposes to serve the citizens of Gloucester County. 8.) Any excess funds (above fund balance guidelines) have higher and better use now e.g., funding an "Asset Management Plan" for the Utilities Enterprise Fund so that operators of that fund can literally "stop flying blind." 9.) No amount of money will ever satisfy "conspiracy theorists." I remain, Yours in service, Joe Joseph Atkins "Joe" Leming, MD, FAAFP Supervisor, Gloucester County Board of Supervisors [Note: The Change.org Civic Engagement Team reaches out to decision makers to let them know about petitions in their community and to help facilitate engagement with supporters. The above was an email response we received…”
Ashley Chriscoe
Ashley Chriscoe
Gloucester County Board - At Large
Nicholas Bonniville
Nicholas Bonniville
Gloucester County Board - At Large

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Petition created on September 23, 2026