Friday, January 21, 2000
Audit faults ex-sheriff
BY JANE PRENDERGAST
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON — A former Kenton County sheriff mistakenly put almost $12,000 in a wrong account, about half of which is owed to schools.
A state audit of Sheriff Gary Lay's administration, released this week, found the last interest payments to schools were made in November 1998, the month he lost the election.
Money should have continued to be paid to the schools through May 31, the audit said. The amount owed to schools totals more than $4,800, with the other $6,900 owed to another sheriff's account.
Auditors say the money exists in accounts still open in the former sheriff's name. They also found a little more than $5,000 remained uncollected by Mr. Lay from various schools and other entities. The audit recommended that money be immediately collected.
Sheriffs collect taxes for the state, county, schools and special taxing districts, such as fire districts. They then are required by law to disburse the money appropriately. They can keep any interest earned on the tax money, except that earned on school taxes.
Mr. Lay should have made a final financial settlement with the fiscal court and state revenue cabinet three months after leaving office, the audit said. He could not be reached for comment.
Current Sheriff Chuck Korzenborn, in office a year, has no responsibility for Mr. Lay's problem, said Bob McBeath, an attorney for State Auditor Ed Hatchett.
An audit of Sheriff Korzenborn's office, however, pointed out the same problem but on a smaller scale: $2,080 in interest owed to school districts.
That money already has been paid to the schools, Chief Deputy Ron Washington said. Since, Sheriff Korzenborn changed procedures to include with the district's monthly tax allotments separate checks for the interest.
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