Rawls set to leave auditor office

Debbie Rawls, Orange County auditor, will retire on Jan. 31.

“I’m ready to do something else,” said Rawls. She is thinking about volunteering with the Salvation Army. Rawls also plans on spending time traveling to visit family in North Carolina. That’s where her sister and nieces live. “I don’t have any grandchildren yet,” she said.

Rawls joined the county as assistant auditor in 1994 and worked her way up to her current position. Her department is under the direction of the district court and is funded through Orange County Commissioners Court.

The county auditor is appointed, not elected. “It’s more objective when we audit,” she said. “We pay the bills and audit the cash offices.”

They conduct a detailed audit once a year to ensure the proper portion of money is going to the state and county coffers and everyone is following guidelines. Surprise cash accounts are done more frequently. “We’re used to looking for things out of the ordinary,” she said. “We have a really good group here. Our office gets along well with others. They respect us for the way we handle ourselves.”

She is looking forward to what the future holds, but knows she will miss her fellow employees.