A recent letter from the Attorney General’s office to the Boys and Girls Club of North Mississippi concerning a programmatic audit for the 2004-2005 budget year is encouraging.

The local Boys and Girls Club received approximately $63,000 from funds from the state, some of which came from the Tobacco Trust Fund, which is the reason for the annual audit by the Attorney General’s Office.

It should be mentioned that the Tobacco Trust Fund has and is coming under scrutiny from elected officials who think the funds should be under the control of the Mississippi Legislature.

According to Director Belinda Morris, the funds are sought through the Department of Human Services and the Attorney General’s office to go along with local fund raising that helps operate the clubs that serve between 400 and 500 young people in Panola County.

According to the report, "The Boys & Girls of Northwest MS is an excellent program. The record keeping, personnel files and documentation of attendance were well organized and in order, which made the auditing much easier for reviewing. This program could be used as a model to other programs struggling in getting their records in order. The Executive Director and staff should be commended for a job well done.

"Overall, the Boys and Girls Club of Northwest MS is doing a great job," writes Joanetta Kendrick with the Attorney General’s office.

"After reviewing the files indicated there are no questioned cost or findings as a result of the audit," writes Assistant Attorney General Patricia B. Marshall.

With all the local fund raising that it takes to keep this organization afloat, it is comforting to know that at least one government agency thinks this organization should be used as a model for how to do it right.
Local donors can also be assured that their money is being spent in the spirit that it was given when someone is taking time to dot the i’s and cross the t’s.

The staff and administration should be commended.