Silver Lake
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
In the past I have written letters expressing my concerns with Silver Lake’s finances and former Clerk-Treasurer Angie Glass’ job performance. The letters were based on information in documents I received from the town. The 2010 & 2011 State Board of Accounts audit shows I was right to be concerned.
The report stated: (1) the books had a considerable number of posting errors such as bank deposits not posted, wrong dollar amounts of checks and receipts posted, payments not posted and some payments posted twice; (2) there was no detail for the payroll fund and the fund balance couldn’t be identified; (3) the customer deposit register was $636 less than the customer deposit fund balance; (4) over $1,700 in penalties and interest were incurred during these two years for late payment of credit card bills, sales tax and payroll taxes, other clerk-treasurers had to reimburse their town; (5) the town didn’t pay hydrant rent in 2010 to the Water Utility; (6) funds and appropriations were over spent and (7) the books weren’t balanced to the bank accounts during 2010 & 2011. Also, there were deficiencies in the internal control system related to financial transactions and reporting including: (a) lack of segregation of duties which could allow misstatement or irregularities to occur undetected, (b) lack of controls to prevent or detect misstatements in the preparation of financial statements, (c) failure of the council to exercise their oversight responsibility of the financial transactions and reporting.
www.in.gov/sboa/WebReports/B40560.pdf
According to the August meeting minutes, the town wasn’t left in a very good financial situation at the end of 2011. Someone asked how the town got in this situation but no definite reason could be given. Poor budget making and overspending are part of what lead to the current situation. Someone else asked why the hydrant rent wasn’t paid and where the money went. The answer was; it had been stated the town didn’t have the money. Glass made that statement at the April 2011 meeting, which I attended, but she didn’t explain why. Records showed over $29,000 spent on remodeling and that’s probably where most of the hydrant money went.
Glass’ financial mismanagement didn’t just affect the town; it also cost taxpayers and utility customers in the form of high taxes and hydrant fees. What’s really irritating: She was given and accepted raises sometimes more than the police and utility employees even though she was there only part time and didn’t perform her duties properly. All of this makes it look like salary was more important than serving the citizens. She received over $220,000 in pay from taxpayers and utility customers.
Had the previous Council done their job and took whatever actions were needed to ensure Glass did hers, and maybe if more people would have believed the information in my letters (and not seen them as personal attacks), and if they too would have started asking questions and demanding answers, the Town wouldn’t be in such a bad financial situation.
Brenda Wadkins
Silver Lake, via e-mail[[In-content Ad]]
In the past I have written letters expressing my concerns with Silver Lake’s finances and former Clerk-Treasurer Angie Glass’ job performance. The letters were based on information in documents I received from the town. The 2010 & 2011 State Board of Accounts audit shows I was right to be concerned.
The report stated: (1) the books had a considerable number of posting errors such as bank deposits not posted, wrong dollar amounts of checks and receipts posted, payments not posted and some payments posted twice; (2) there was no detail for the payroll fund and the fund balance couldn’t be identified; (3) the customer deposit register was $636 less than the customer deposit fund balance; (4) over $1,700 in penalties and interest were incurred during these two years for late payment of credit card bills, sales tax and payroll taxes, other clerk-treasurers had to reimburse their town; (5) the town didn’t pay hydrant rent in 2010 to the Water Utility; (6) funds and appropriations were over spent and (7) the books weren’t balanced to the bank accounts during 2010 & 2011. Also, there were deficiencies in the internal control system related to financial transactions and reporting including: (a) lack of segregation of duties which could allow misstatement or irregularities to occur undetected, (b) lack of controls to prevent or detect misstatements in the preparation of financial statements, (c) failure of the council to exercise their oversight responsibility of the financial transactions and reporting.
www.in.gov/sboa/WebReports/B40560.pdf
According to the August meeting minutes, the town wasn’t left in a very good financial situation at the end of 2011. Someone asked how the town got in this situation but no definite reason could be given. Poor budget making and overspending are part of what lead to the current situation. Someone else asked why the hydrant rent wasn’t paid and where the money went. The answer was; it had been stated the town didn’t have the money. Glass made that statement at the April 2011 meeting, which I attended, but she didn’t explain why. Records showed over $29,000 spent on remodeling and that’s probably where most of the hydrant money went.
Glass’ financial mismanagement didn’t just affect the town; it also cost taxpayers and utility customers in the form of high taxes and hydrant fees. What’s really irritating: She was given and accepted raises sometimes more than the police and utility employees even though she was there only part time and didn’t perform her duties properly. All of this makes it look like salary was more important than serving the citizens. She received over $220,000 in pay from taxpayers and utility customers.
Had the previous Council done their job and took whatever actions were needed to ensure Glass did hers, and maybe if more people would have believed the information in my letters (and not seen them as personal attacks), and if they too would have started asking questions and demanding answers, the Town wouldn’t be in such a bad financial situation.
Brenda Wadkins
Silver Lake, via e-mail[[In-content Ad]]
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