Asheville Reporter

A state audit of Robbinsville has uncovered multiple violations and financial irregularities, suggesting breaches in town policies, state laws, and past audit findings. The findings have led to increased scrutiny of the conduct and financial management of officials within Robbinsville.

Robbinsville Mayor Shaun Adams responded to the audit findings in a statement to ABC 13 News. "The town is currently working on amending the W-2’s and will issue them to former town officials and employees. Former Town officials refused to hand over needed records to amend the W-2’s after the 2019 audit. Robbinsville Town Council acted on advice of former town attorney M. Ellen Davis related to conduct of meetings and closed sessions. Town officials did not sign the $414 mileage reimbursement until two members of the Robbinsville Tourism Authority Board signed off on the invoice as was discussed during the July 6, 2022, meeting with the attorney present. Bank reconciliations were not completed because the town Board of Aldermen terminated Finance Director Sonya Webster in July 2022 and the town board took months to hire someone in her place resulting in the financial statements getting behind," said Adams.

According to the State Auditor's office, six significant findings were highlighted in the audit report, underscoring a failure by the Town Council to fulfill its responsibilities. These included disregard for internal policies and decisions by the Town Council, leading to unaddressed errors in W-2 statements for former officials and employees. The report also noted that both Robbinsville and its Tourism Authority had breached North Carolina's Open Meetings Law while failing to complete essential monthly bank reconciliations. For fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, Robbinsville managed operations with a budget approximating $1.8 million covering both General Fund and Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund.

The State Auditor's office further recommended that Town Council members adhere strictly to town policies and laws, particularly regarding the issuance of corrected W-2s to former employees, in compliance with federal and state regulations. The office also stressed the importance of adherence to state laws on public meetings by both the Town Council and the Tourism Authority, suggesting alternative approaches for critical functions like timely bank reconciliations when key positions are vacant.

ABC 13 News reported that previous audits from 2019 had revealed instances where town leaders used credit cards and purchased gas without properly documenting these expenses as business-related costs.