LOOGOOTEE, Ind. — State examiners found no reportable instances of noncompliance during a routine four-year review of Perry Township’s financial records and operations, according to an audit report released by the Indiana State Board of Accounts.
The compliance engagement report, filed on Oct. 19, 2026, evaluated the Martin County township’s records from Jan. 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2025. Unlike prior state examinations of the local taxing unit, the most recent review concluded with no citations, comments, or corrective action directives.
“No reportable instances of noncompliance,” state examiners wrote in the five-page document released this fall.
The clean assessment contrasts with findings from earlier state reviews. In an audit examining records from 2011 through 2013, state regulators noted several procedural deficiencies, including $9,802 in disbursements that exceeded budgeted appropriations in the township assistance fund, late annual financial filings, and missing written certifications regarding state contracting and nepotism laws. A subsequent compliance report covering 2014 through 2017 cited unresolved bank reconciliation issues, showing a $5,195 discrepancy between township ledger records and bank statements.
Under Indiana law, the State Board of Accounts conducts periodic reviews of local governmental entities to evaluate whether public officials adhere to statutory guidelines governing appropriations, vendor documentation, and accounting procedures.
In the latest report, examiners noted that their review procedures were conducted under Indiana Code 5-11-1 to test compliance with uniform guidelines, rather than to issue a formal audit opinion on the township’s overall financial statements. The agency included its standard regulatory disclaimer noting that the examination was not designed to identify every potential instance of noncompliance.
The findings were formally communicated during a Sept. 24 exit conference with township officials, including Trustee Jason Hennette, Township Board Chair Tony Dant, board member Brandi Hennette, and bookkeeper Steven L. Anderson. Hennette has served as the township’s executive trustee since 2011.
The filing follows recent discussions within the Martin County community and on social media questioning whether historical spending issues or conflict-of-interest disclosures had been flagged during the state’s latest oversight cycle. State audit documentation confirms that no current or retroactive compliance violations were cited in the October report.
Requests for comment sent by The Loogootee Times to the Indiana State Board of Accounts and Perry Township leadership. The State Board reached out to us on Thursday around 8 a.m. only to show a brief description on where to find the audit records from 2022-25.
Perry Township officials did not return our request for comment.
Official public records and annual financial reports filed by Perry Township remain accessible to the public through the Indiana Gateway for Government Units financial reporting portal.
Below provides the full document filed by the State Board of Accounts on Oct. 19, 2026. You can download or view the PDF upload here:
