May 11, 2012

Comptroller’s audit alleges that a former Village of Wolcott clerk-treasurer made unauthorized payments to herself


Comptroller’s audit alleges that a former Village of Wolcott clerk-treasurer made unauthorized payments to herself

An audit report issued by the State Comptroller's Division of Local Government and School Accountability  alleges that a former Village of Wolcott clerk-treasurer misappropriated more than $68,000 of the village's funds over a four-year period.

The village had contacted the Comptroller's office. After reviewing the village's financial records the auditors reported that the village’s accounting records indicated that unauthorized disbursements in the form of extra payroll payments, unauthorized overtime payments, excessive health insurance buyouts, unearned leave payouts, overpayment of vital statistics fees, and payments inappropriately charged to the village’s records management grant had been made.

The audit report recommended the village:

1. Ensure the village's clerk-treasurer maintains adequate, accurate and timely records and reports on an ongoing basis;

2.Require and review detailed monthly financial reports, which should include cash balances, cash receipts and disbursements made during the month, a comparison of actual revenue and expenditures to budget amounts, and bank reconciliations with copies of the bank statements.

3. Adopt and distribute a Code of Ethics, as required by law; and

4. Monitor cash disbursement records to ensure accuracy.

The Division's audit report is posted on the Internet at: