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Coshocton Metropolitan Housing Authority Overpays Employees over $14,000

Thursday, August 1, 2019

Columbus – Auditor of State Keith Faber today released the fiscal year 2017 audit of Coshocton Metropolitan Housing Authority. The audit uncovered a lack of proper accounting processes, which led to the housing authority overpaying seven employees a total of $14,264.

“Failing to have internal controls in place is unacceptable,” Auditor Faber said. “Any government office’s first responsibility is to be accountable with the taxpayer funds they receive.”

During the testing of payroll disbursements, auditors noted that the housing authority overpaid several employees for hours not worked or compensatory time not earned. Also, the housing authority overpaid several employees because they paid them at an overtime rate, instead of their regular rate.

Auditor Faber issued a finding for recovery against the following Coshocton Metropolitan Housing Authority employees.

Employee

Severance Overpayment

William O’Connell

$876

Chris McElroy

$4,111

Joan Neville

$9,049

Kenneth Gress

$43

Matthew Beam

$119

Nikea McElroy

$16

Thomas Hawthorne

$50

Total

$14,264

Auditors also uncovered that the housing authority did not have adequate internal controls to properly disburse the federal funding they were receiving. Without supporting documentation and proper approval, auditors flagged $68,784 of their disbursements as questioned costs.

A full copy of this report is available online.

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The Auditor of State’s office, one of five independently elected statewide offices in Ohio is responsible for auditing more than 6,000 state and local government agencies. Under the direction of Auditor Keith Faber, the office also provides financial services to local governments, investigates and prevents fraud in public agencies, and promotes transparency in government. 

Contact:

Allie Dumski

Press Secretary

(614) -644-1111