The Jackson Township trustee has been ordered to pay back more than $70,000 for mismanaging township funds.
Trustee Linda Auleman, the township’s executive and fiscal officer, overpaid herself by $54,603.12 since taking office in 2019, according to a State Board of Accounts (SBOA) investigation covering 2019 and 2020.
The SBOA also is requiring Auleman pay $4,115.94 for additional payroll taxes the township incurred because of the overpayments, and $11,756.25 to the state for the cost of the investigation.
In total, Auleman has been ordered to pay back $70,475.31.
The SBOA report listed Auleman’s infractions as:
- Salary overpayments.
- Additional payroll taxes incurred due to the salary overpayments.
- Salary paid in advance of when the service was performed.
- Rent payments made in advance of the month of service. The [township] 2020 rent was paid in full in October 2019.
- Payment in advance for a custom credenza never received by the township.
- Expenditures exceeding the certified 2019 budget.
Auleman blamed inadequate training for the overpayments. In an interview with the SBOA, she said previous trustee William Bill Marsh would not allow the previous clerk – his wife – to train her.
“She did [train me] for three hours,” Auleman said. “She did the best she could for the little time she was allowed.”
Auleman also overpaid the three members of the Jackson Township Board by $1,045 each. Those funds have been repaid.
The Indiana Attorney General’s Office is reviewing the SBOA audit.
“[We are] investigating the charges made, and determining what action should be taken to collect the damages charged,” the AG’s Office wrote in an email. “SBOA’s audit report does not indicate any payments have been received from Ms. Auleman.”
Auleman could not be reached for comment.
