A draft of an independent audit report of Wiscasset town finances for fiscal year 2007-2008 reveals $56,000 in missing funds.
The draft, however, is incomplete lacking an accounting of about $430,000 in revenues making it look as if there were overdrafts in several department accounts.
To clear up the mess created by the error, the town budget committee and selectmen are holding a workshop on Wed., Jan. 14 with RHR Smith at the municipal building at 6 p.m., Town Manager Arthur Faucher said Friday.
The long awaited audit shows funds believed to be a part of a total amount former Town Clerk Sandra Johnson has been charged with embezzling. Wiscasset police arrested her last October and charged her with theft by deception in connection with the funds.
However, the town inadvertently released the draft audit RHR Smith accounting firm completed to the local press without realizing it was only a draft and lacking the revenue figures.
The reason town officials thought it was a final report is because they had been waiting for it and auditors neglected to stamp the report as a draft, Faucher said.
The revenues not showing up on the audit include Wiscasset Municipal Airport tie-down fees, ambulance fees, and transfer station fees, which without show overdrafts.
The report in its draft form became public domain once the selectmen received it, but has resulted in erroneous information about the account information to the public.
