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Audits Find Issues with how Throop Handled Various Financial Matters

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A series of audits from the state comptroller’s office have found serious issues with how the Town of Throop handled various financial matters.

There were three audits, each beginning on January 1, 2017. An audit regarding a former town supervisor lasted until June 17, 2021; the one regarding the highway department lasted until April 23, 2021, and the final audit, related to procurement, lasted until April 28, 2021.

The first audit determined that the former town supervisor did not properly collect or disperse cash assets in his custody, nor did the Town Board ensure that he properly performed his duties, The audit found $15,823 in missing funds.

Former Supervisor William Tarby was found to have been inappropriately reimbursed $1,526 for expenditures on the town’s credit card, failed to deposit five cash receipts totalling $22,464, and dispursed 106 payments totalling $782,518 prior to board approval. He also would manually write checks using a typewriter and black check stock to circumvent the approval process.

Tarby took a town computer used to record cash transactions when he left office. When the computer was eventually returned, all data had been erased.

Tarby, who had served as supervisor for 15 years, pled guilty in January 2024 to stealing almost $11,000 from the town. In February he was ordered to pay full restitution and was barred from ever seeking public office again.

As for the highway department, it was found that the Town Board and Highway Superintendent did not provide proper oversight over the department’s financial activities.

The audit revealed that the board and superintendent did not agree, in writing, to expenditures for highway repairs and improvements prior to 2021. This meant the board was not adequately able to plan and budget long-term road maintenance. They also did not enter into written shared service agreements with surrounding towns for shared projects or maintain records to ensure taxpayer equity.

Additionally, the superintendent failed to retain documentation related to scrap metal sales or account for sales totalling $1,277, or maintain a complete and up-to-date inventory of equipment, leading to an increased risk of equipment loss or misuse.

Town officials agreed to the comptroller’s office’s recommendations to agree annually in writing to highway repair and improvement expenditures; establish written policies and procedures for cash receipts, and maintain an uptoday inventory of the department’s assets.

The final audit was conducted to determine whether or not the board ensured that town officials sought competition for purchases. It found that of the 180 purchases reviewed, totalling $1.3 million, competitive bidding requirements were not followed for 72 of them, totalling $887,952.

It was also found that competition was not sought for professional services from seven providers totalling $595,996. This equates to 99% of the $601,037 total services obtained from eight vendors.

As with the highway department audit, the board agreed with the comptroller’s recommendations to follow statutory competitive bidding requirements and procure professional services competitively.

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