Wichita County’s three district judges appointed a new district auditor on Thursday.
They chose Matt Davis for the job.
Davis is a Wichita Falls native, graduate of Midwestern State University, and served as deputy auditor in the Auditor’s Office from 2011 to 2022. He will begin his new position on August 26.
“I look forward to taking the reins and getting things where they need to be,” Davis said after his appointment was confirmed.
Under Texas law, district judges appoint auditors for counties with more than 10,200 residents.
Auditors monitor the finances of all district offices and officials and can issue accounting instructions to all district officials.
Cheryll Jones has held the position since 2020, but the jury had already advertised the position in April and invited applications.
During her tenure, Jones crossed swords with the county’s governing body, the Wichita County Commissioners Court.
In April 2024, angry election commissioners demanded information about why some poll workers had not been paid on time during the March primary election.
Jones said the delay was due to incomplete documentation received in her office.
Later in April, Wichita County Tax Collector Tommy Smyth complained that some payments owed by the county were 253 days past due, even though the county had been collecting taxes since December.
Smyth said the money should be disbursed through the County Auditor’s Office and then the County Treasurer’s Office.
Jones replied that the money could not be paid out through her office and that Smyth had not raised any concerns with her.
Both the Auditor’s Office and the County Treasurer’s Office came under scrutiny by commissioners in July 2023 when they learned that the county had failed to pay federal taxes for its employees and had been assessed penalties.
Although state judges select the auditor, the county pays the salary, which was projected at $118,000 in 2024.
More: Curious about property taxes? Check this out
More: Wichita Falls city councilors discuss tax increases amid looming public safety crisis
