Three deficiencies noted in the latest State Comptroller’s Office audit of Overton County Government.
Audit Committee Chair Donna Savage said the first finding involved an improper payment in the Highway Department. Savage said two of the issues involved the school system.
“These investigations started in 2021 and 2022,” Savage said. “The first one was the former school budget director, double counted hours worked, failed to report lunch breaks, improperly calculated time on timesheets.”
Savage said upon resigning, the former employee paid herself for back compensatory time in the amount of $19,177.
Savage said the other investigation for the school resulted in two people being charged in connection with the system’s After School Program.
“Falsely reporting time was not worked for a total of $24,420,” Savage said. ” And before you ask, it’s up to, the director of schools has done his part, turned all this in and now it’s up to the district attorney.”
Savage said the budget director resigned and the two that were charged are no longer working in the school system.
County Executive Steven Barlow said, in relation to the two former After School Program employees, he trusts the district attorney will go after every dime.
“I think they’re going through criminal court through the process on the ones that took money that they found,” Barlow said. “I have no second ideas about the money not being returned back to where it is supposed to be.”
Savage said the Highway Department set up a receivable and payable in the amount of $170,000 each. Savage said money was paid as a reimbursement request, instead, the vendor should have submitted an invoice.
Savage said no money was taken or misused.
