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Saturday, January 19, 2008

Ind. Gov't. - Indiana State Board of Accounts audit reports available; Scott treasurer focus of inquiry

Today the Louisville Courier Journal has a story by Grace Schneider that begins:

SCOTTSBURG, Ind. -- A Scott County judge has appointed a special prosecutor to investigate criminal allegations against county Treasurer Bonnie Comer involving how she has kept track of county funds.

The action that could cost Comer her job follows a scathing review last month from the Indiana State Board of Accounts detailing numerous problems in Comer's office, including a $731,000 conflict between what county ledgers showed and the county's bank deposits.

Scott County leaders said this week they don't believe any money was misappropriated.

"There's never been any indication (that) Bonnie took any money," said county attorney Robert Houston.

The county has an annual budget of about $18 million.

State auditors notified Comer six weeks ago that they intended to advise Scott County Prosecutor Jason Mount of the problems and of two potential violations that could force her from office if she were convicted, Houston said.

Comer, asked Wednesday about the situation, said she was unaware that a special prosecutor had been appointed. In a brief phone call later, she said, "I haven't done anything wrong," and declined to comment further.

Comer is in the last year of her second four-year term as treasurer, a job that pays $39,319 a year. She is barred by a state term-limits law from seeking re-election.

In written responses to the auditor's reports, Comer defended herself vigorously.

"I did not take this job to intentionally destroy the county financially," she wrote in response to the latest report. "I do not think the county is any worse off for my holding this job. I have not nor will I ever take money from anyone or any entity."

The reports and responses are posted on the agency's Web site, www.in.gov/sboa/resources/reports.

Here is a link to the supplemental report filed 12/28/07.

The ILB was impressed to find that all Board of Accounts reports filed after July 1, 2006 are available online for immediate download, and that reports from prior years, all of which may be located via the SBA database, will be emailed or mailed to you upon request.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on January 19, 2008 11:53 AM
Posted to Indiana Government