黑料福利社

A state investigation has found that the Mabton School District misappropriated funds by overpaying some of its staff.

The Washington State Auditor Office's investigation found that Mabton overpaid 35 employees, totaling $84,102. An employee notified the district's payroll department of the overpayment at the end of August 2024, and the district found 35 staffers had been overpaid. The district informed the employees, and recovered the funds from all but three people, resulting in a misappropriation of $5,690.

A district investigation then identified a former program coordinator who continued to be paid for five months after her employment ended in August 2024, resulting in a $20,944 misappropriation.

Investigators found that Mabton's internal controls聽"were not adequate to safeguard public resources." The district lacked adequate oversight and proper payroll review, the report said.

The district responded, saying they have "aggressively pursued an overhaul of financial and payroll systems."聽The auditor's office plans to follow up on the district's internal controls during its next audit.

Auditor's investigation聽

Mabton operates an annual budget of around $15.4 million, with $11.7 million going to payroll expenses, according to the auditor's office. The district has 116 full-time employees.

Last April, the district notified the auditor's office of a potential loss of public funds, as required by state law.聽

The district's investigation found Mabton's business manager entered supplementary payroll hours twice.聽

On March 11, 2025, the district sent certified letters to the four former employees requesting repayment. As of early May, they had not repaid or responded to the district, the report said.

The auditor's office recommended that the district evaluate and strengthen its internal controls and conduct monthly payroll reviews to ensure accuracy. The district should also seek聽 the $26,634 not yet recovered and related investigation costs of $7,674 from the former employees and-or its insurance company, the report said.

The district did not file a police report related to the misappropriation. The auditor's office investigation has been sent to the聽Yakima County Prosecuting Attorney鈥檚 Office.

Mabton's response

In Mabton's response, it stated that it has enhanced regional oversight and support, including oversight from multiple Education Service Districts and standardized retraining.聽

It also strengthened internal control procedures, including multi-level review, school board accountability and documented procedures.聽

The district is evaluating its options to recover the misappropriated funds.聽

"We are committed to full cooperation with the Yakima County Prosecuting Attorney鈥檚 Office and (the Office of the Washington State Auditor) as this matter moves forward," the district's response said.