Auditor of State Rob Sand Tuesday (today) released a report on a special investigation of the Fremont and Mills County Outreach Centers (Centers) of the West Central Community Action Agency (Agency). The report covers a period from July 1, 2017 through February 28, 2019. The special investigation was conducted as a result of concerns monetary donations collected at the Centers were not properly deposited and non-monetary donations were used for personal purposes rather than distributed to individuals in need of services. A single Family Development Specialist (Specialist) was responsible for receiving monetary donations and donations of food, clothing, and other items at both Centers.

Sand reported the special investigation identified $1,016.00 of donations received at the Centers that were not properly deposited with the Agency’s Central Office in Harlan, Iowa from December 12, 2017 through February 26, 2019. Sand also reported the undeposited donations were identified by comparing receipts issued by the Centers to amounts deposited with the Central Office. However, Sand also reported $1,664.02 of donations were deposited with the Agency’s Central Office which were not supported by receipts from the Centers during the same period.

As a result, it was determined receipts were not prepared on a consistent basis at the Centers and it was not possible to determine if additional donations were not properly deposited. In addition, because receipts were not issued by the Centers prior to December 2017, any donations not properly deposited prior to that period could not be identified.

Sand also reported no one provided direct oversight of the Specialist at the Fremont and Mills County Outreach Centers or ensured appropriate reports were prepared for each distribution of non-monetary donations received at the Centers. As a result, it was not possible to determine if any non-monetary donations were improperly distributed.

Copies of the report have been filed with the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, the Division of Criminal Investigation, the Fremont County Attorney’s Office, and the Attorney General’s Office. A copy of the report is available for review on the Auditor of State’s web site at https://www.auditor.iowa.gov/reports/audit-reports/.