NATCHEZ — Adams County’s tax collector says an employee is working to correct a financial discrepancy in his office.

Tax Collector Peter Burns informed the Adams County Board of Supervisors of the discrepancy last week during a budgeting session.

The discussion was moved into executive session when Burns mentioned an office employee had been involved in the discrepancy.

Burns later said the error stemmed from a transaction a clerk made with one of three Adams County residents who paid at the clerk’s window.

“At the end of the day, the clerk’s drawer came up short, and we started looking into it,” Burns said. “You can’t just accuse someone of being wrong, so we wrote a letter to each of the customers stating that the clerk’s drawer was incorrect that evening, to please recheck their change and receipt and to get in touch.

“All three did and said they had the correct amount.”

Burns declined to state the exact amount of the discrepancy, but said it was greater than a minor error.

“Occasionally, they might be a few cents off, but this was a greater amount,” Burns said. “But it’s not like this is a regular occurrence. In my time there, this has happened only three times.”

Burns has been tax collector for seven years and said in each case the discrepancies were resolved either through the taxpayer realizing they had been given more change or the employee agreeing to pay back the missing funds.

“It was simply an error caused by, more than likely, the clerk being distracted by everything going on,” Burns said. “I wanted the board to realize how stressful those front-line clerks’ jobs are when they are constantly inputting information, counting change and the phone is constantly ringing in their ear.”

Burns said the clerk, who is still employed at the office, agreed to pay back the funds missing from the drawer.

Burns also informed the board last week of mandatory raises two employees in his office would be receiving based on a new state law.

The law creates three levels of certifications clerks can receive through educational programs.

An employee who passes the first two courses can receive a $2,000 raise for each certification, while the third course results in a $2,500 raise.

“The classes are more difficult for each level, but they teach us more about our jobs and how to do a better job,” Burns said.

Burns said Mississippi tax assessor employees have had a similar system in place for years, but this was the first year the raises have been offered for employees of the tax collector’s office.

The law didn’t include any funding from the state when it passed, so the additional funds must come from the county’s budget.

Supervisors Darryl Grennell and David Carter said they would have liked the state to tie some funds to the program, but also applauded the employees for taking the educational courses to receive the certification. Both supervisors said they wished more of those programs were be available to different county departments.