The concern was that the parish had not published detailed, audited accounts for 2020-23, but it still went to the Royal Court where it received approval for the proposed rates.

During a discussion on the situation, parishioner Ray Le Poidevin wondered if, with the accounts not being complete and verified, the parish could request the rate changes under the Parish Taxation Act?

No one in the room or on the panel was able to respond, but Senior Constable Diane Mitchell said the matter would be investigated and the results reported to parishioners at the next public meeting, either online via the Facebook page or the parish website.

But there’s no indication the parish hasn’t presented numbers to the courts, she said.

“There were a series of accounts, but they weren’t necessarily accurate,” she said at the meeting.

Earlier in the evening, parishioners approved the appointment of DNA as parish accountant and Lince Salisbury as auditor. In addition to working on this year’s books, the companies also aimed to finalize and audit backdated accounts that were never officially filed.

DNA’s Diane De Garis said that when she came to look at the accounts for 2020 to 2023, they were “pretty messy”. The company decided to prove everything it could.

Draft accounts were discussed, during which it was called for an investigation into what had happened and someone to be guilty.

One parishioner responded that looking back was not the solution and that efforts were needed to ensure the same situation did not happen again.

Associate Dean Mary McDermott said she and others have repeatedly requested more details about the accounts over the years but have been turned down each time. It was only after Ms. Mitchell took office that she and other twelveniers were given access.

n With two candidates for a vacant position of gendarme and eight for six seats in the dozen, the assembly approved the postponement of the elections to Wednesday, November 20.