A state audit has found issues with the Town of Cato’s former clerk.
The audit was conducted by the state comptroller’s office between January 1, 2023, and February 12, 2026. It sought to determine whether or not the town clerk accurately recorded, deposited, remitted, and reported all collections. During the period reviewed, the audit said the town clerk’s collection totaled approximately $5.8 million.
The audit reports that, while the clerk and former clerk typically recorded and reported collections accurately and timely; however, the former clerk did not deposit and remit all collections in a timely manner. The lack of compliance meant there was an increased risk that monies could be lost, unaccounted for, or misappropriated.
According to the comptroller’s office, the former clerk did not deposit clerk fee collections totaling approximately $54,000 and real property tax collections totaling approximately $2.8 million in a timely manner. Additionally, the audit alleges that the former clerk did not remit real property tax collections totaling approximately $883,000 in a timely manner to the Supervisor as required by law.
The report included two recommendations for corrective action to which town officials agreed and plan to take corrective action.
The full audit can be found on the comptroller’s website.
