 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Noted from the audit findings, the Tribal Payroll Account was not reconciled in
over ten years! At a Tribal Council meeting on 8/5/09, the former Treasurer
reported that the FY 2007 audit was held up due to problems with the payroll. It
was reported that a second payroll account was found & used to fund early pay
checks. These checks in question weren’t paid back, forcing the Tribe to get a
Letter of Credit. The Letter of Credit was supposed to be paid off when the early
pay checks were paid back, however, they didn’t do it. Instead, the money went
back into the payroll account to fund more early pay checks. When the Letter of
Credit became due, they didn’t have the money, necessitating yet another loan,
to keep up with the tribal payroll.
During the Community Audit Review for FY 2005 - FY2007, Membership asked if
the issue of early paychecks was resolved. Chairman Wiggins directed the
Tribal Operations Manager, Cheryl Cloud Westlund to respond. She stated that
the early paychecks were still not resolved. She further stated that the worst
year was FY 2006. She was then asked, “Collectively, how much is still owed to
the Tribe?” Mrs. Westlund replied, “I’m not comfortable answering that question.”
Again, it was pointed out, “We’re not asking who or how much each individual
owes, but collectively, how much is owed the Tribe? Mrs. Westlund adamantly
refused to answer that question.
Audit after audit, these findings remain unresolved. “Bank reconciliations were
not prepared for the payroll checking account. Unrecorded checks and deposits;
double recorded checks and deposits; unrecorded bank charges; and
unrecorded wire transfers in and out… Significant audit adjustments were
recommended to various bank accounts. These adjustments included voiding
outstanding checks.” (p. 62 FY09 audit).
Take a look at the revenue transferred from our Casino to the General Account
for FY2005. The amount is far greater than any other year. What happened to
all that revenue? Remember now, the comment that FY 2006 was the worst year
that employees received early payroll advances, which they didn’t pay back. The
Tribe had a plump General Account funded with the massive transfers from our
Casino revenue. The amount taken by these dishonest individuals employed by
the Tribe is still unknown. We can only speculate. The Tribal Administrations,
past and present, refuse to resolve this issue. Exactly how much is owed from
the early payroll advance scams? Are we talking a few bucks or MILLIONS?
These people ripped us off & their wages were never even garnished! If this
happened anywhere else, heads would have rolled & they would have been
prosecuted! It would seem Tribal Members, as Shareholders, are powerless to
stop the wrongful depletion of our Tribal revenues... or are we?
over ten years! At a Tribal Council meeting on 8/5/09, the former Treasurer
reported that the FY 2007 audit was held up due to problems with the payroll. It
was reported that a second payroll account was found & used to fund early pay
checks. These checks in question weren’t paid back, forcing the Tribe to get a
Letter of Credit. The Letter of Credit was supposed to be paid off when the early
pay checks were paid back, however, they didn’t do it. Instead, the money went
back into the payroll account to fund more early pay checks. When the Letter of
Credit became due, they didn’t have the money, necessitating yet another loan,
to keep up with the tribal payroll.
During the Community Audit Review for FY 2005 - FY2007, Membership asked if
the issue of early paychecks was resolved. Chairman Wiggins directed the
Tribal Operations Manager, Cheryl Cloud Westlund to respond. She stated that
the early paychecks were still not resolved. She further stated that the worst
year was FY 2006. She was then asked, “Collectively, how much is still owed to
the Tribe?” Mrs. Westlund replied, “I’m not comfortable answering that question.”
Again, it was pointed out, “We’re not asking who or how much each individual
owes, but collectively, how much is owed the Tribe? Mrs. Westlund adamantly
refused to answer that question.
Audit after audit, these findings remain unresolved. “Bank reconciliations were
not prepared for the payroll checking account. Unrecorded checks and deposits;
double recorded checks and deposits; unrecorded bank charges; and
unrecorded wire transfers in and out… Significant audit adjustments were
recommended to various bank accounts. These adjustments included voiding
outstanding checks.” (p. 62 FY09 audit).
Take a look at the revenue transferred from our Casino to the General Account
for FY2005. The amount is far greater than any other year. What happened to
all that revenue? Remember now, the comment that FY 2006 was the worst year
that employees received early payroll advances, which they didn’t pay back. The
Tribe had a plump General Account funded with the massive transfers from our
Casino revenue. The amount taken by these dishonest individuals employed by
the Tribe is still unknown. We can only speculate. The Tribal Administrations,
past and present, refuse to resolve this issue. Exactly how much is owed from
the early payroll advance scams? Are we talking a few bucks or MILLIONS?
These people ripped us off & their wages were never even garnished! If this
happened anywhere else, heads would have rolled & they would have been
prosecuted! It would seem Tribal Members, as Shareholders, are powerless to
stop the wrongful depletion of our Tribal revenues... or are we?
Where's The Money ?
Part 4. Payroll Administration
Part 4. Payroll Administration