Madison County officials are divided on whether to hire a forensic auditor as they work to resolve years of financial issues tied to the former treasurer.

Madison County’s auditor is refusing to pay more than $13,000 in legal bills, saying supervisors have not explained why the outside firm was hired.

Madison County voters handed a decisive victory to independent candidate Michele Brant in a rare special election that unseated appointed auditor Matthew Schwarz. Brant, a former county board clerk, ...