A state audit shows the former city clerk of a small eastern Iowa town paid herself way more than her authorized salary. Officials in the city of Durant asked for the audit after concerns were raised about the actions of Carla Graves, the city clerk who was fired earlier this year.
The state audit identified over $33,000 worth of "improper payroll disbursements." Most of it was paid directly to Graves in the past eight years. But about $4,000 went to her pension and was paid in payroll taxes, because she was drawing higher wages than had been authorized.
The audit found the former city clerk received pay increases at the beginning of each fiscal year that were authorized by the Durant City Council, but she boosted her own hourly wage rate in November of 2001 and in September of 2002 without authorization.
Over the 207 paychecks issued to Graves in the nearly eight year period covered by the audit, 169 of them were for an amount greater than authorized. The audit has been forwarded to the Cedar County Attorney’s office and state officials. The report is also posted on-line at the State Auditor’s website .