BELLE — A petition requesting the Missouri State Auditor examine the city of Belle’s 2023 finances, with the possibility of reverting to previous years, is now underway.

State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick’s Office estimates the city needs 232 signatures from qualified Belle voters to proceed. If enough signatures are received seeking a state audit, the city will be responsible for $50,000 to $80,000 in estimated costs.

Rebecca Withouse said she started the audit request process when she spoke to a State Auditor’s Office representative at the beginning of February 2024.

“Honestly, the process was pretty straightforward,” Withouse said. “ It was simply going online and filling out the form to the best of my abilities. They wanted to know about my concerns, what my priority was, what I was worried about.”

Withouse said she was concerned about the way Marshal Jerry Coborn is being paid, even though she thinks he is doing well.

“I brought up how Marshal Coborn is being paid and how Charro (Reasor, city treasurer) said she didn’t know if they were paying him legally,” Withouse said. “My number one concern is that a 2007 newspaper article quoted the mayor admitting he used the city credit card for personal use multiple times. It was multiple months and he only allegedly put the money back after he was caught. If he hadn’t been caught, would we have ever seen that money again?

“Now, the most recent alleged theft, when going to the city council when trying to get any answers they can’t comment on it. They had started an audit process and stopped. What if they found something and they aren’t going to tell us? The city council has publicly supported (the mayor). Do I trust that my city council is going to be honest? To say ‘There was more thievery and we are going to go ahead and support this?’”

Withouse added that even a new board can’t fix the problem, assuming one was elected during the April 2 municipal elections.

“This board has lied and hidden things,” Withouse alleged. “Would the new board members even know where to look or take the time to look?”

After sharing those concerns with the State Auditor’s Office, Withouse said they acknowledged she has valid concerns. She received a letter postmarked on March 7 that gave her permission to collect the required 232 signatures.

“It took them longer to get back to me than I thought it would,” she said.

According to the State Auditor’s Office, qualifications and rules to sign the petition include:

• A registered voter and resident of the political subdivision at the time they sign;

• The number of signatures required for the petition is based on the number of residents who voted in the last gubernatorial election (232);

• The petition for an audit must include, on its face, the estimated amount and that the political subdivision being audited will be required to pay the actual amount;

• The petitioner must use the provided signature forms or make copies of the provided forms. Because Belle is located in two counties, residents in Maries County must sign the Maries County form and residents in Osage County must sign the Osage County form;

• The final cost of the audit will be based on the actual time, travel, and other necessary expenses required to complete it.

“In this town, it has been proven it’s not what you do, it’s who you know,” Withouse said. “The state doesn’t care about that. They will come in, look over the books, and allow us to fix it. It has become clear to me that the city of Belle needs fixing and we can’t if we are unwilling to shed light on the dark spots. I don’t trust the current board. They can’t even tell us if we are paying Daryl (White, Jr., mayor). They didn’t know if they were paying Daryl, but can say without a shadow of a doubt that there was no impropriety with city funds? They are saying Frankie (Horstman, former city clerk) was stealing. Why would Frankie need to steal paint? They are trying to say she allegedly did it in 2008. We need an outside party. The state needs to come in, just like they did to make sure we are following Sunshine Law.”

Withouse questioned how the city doesn’t have money to fund water and sewer updates, but uses employee time to host the Old Fashioned Christmas event.

“They say no city money was used, but all the city employees worked on it.

“The asphalt thing — using city employees to pave the parking lot next to Padgett’s Place — city employees were paid for doing it. I just want honesty and transparency.”

Withouse said she will have to prove her qualifications to request an audit when she submits signatures to the State Auditor’s Office.

“I have one year to collect the signatures,” she said. “I have to own land in Belle — I am buying, in a private mortgage, my house. I will have to prove it, to show the State Auditor. I have three signatures so far — me, my husband, and my son.

“We need change, but we aren’t going to get it with this board,” Withouse said.

The State Auditor’s Office plans to begin with the most recently completed fiscal year and work its way back, looking for discrepancies.

“If they don’t find anything illegal, we are free and clear,” she said. “If they do find something, they will trace it back until the illegal action stops. They normally do about four years.”

Withouse said she plans to make herself available to the public to sign the petition. This weekend from 2 to 4 p.m. she will sit on the bench next to the playground at Belle City Park with a copy of the letter from the State Auditor and the petitions.

“Sunday, April 7, I will be at the Belle City Park, on a bench at the playground from 2 to 4 p.m. if anyone would like to come and sign,” she said. “I will have a copy of the State Auditor’s Office letter for anyone to view. People are welcome to come talk to me or reach out about the audit and why I am doing it. If anyone can’t make it, they can call or text me at 573-201-8565 to sign the petition if they want.”

Withouse said she will also attend the Belle Board of Aldermen meeting at 6:30 p.m. on April 10 at the Lonnie Feeler Memorial Building and will have the petition with her for anyone who wants to sign.

“I intend to ask the council to sign at the next city council meeting,” she added. “We need to do something.”