Columbus – Expensive dinners, excursions for staff members, and salary overpayments continue to pile up at the Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy (CCPA), as outlined in another audit released today by Auditor of State Dave Yost.

“These two officials saw no boundaries in how they used taxpayer dollars,” Auditor Yost said.  “With each audit, we find more of the same: total disregard for the trust placed in them.”

The audit released today reviewed records from the 2010 fiscal year.  During that time, Treasurer Stephanie Millard’s salary was set to not exceed $50,700.  She invoiced and was paid a total of $59,007.  There was no evidence that the board approved the overpayment and no indication that it was for a proper public purpose.  A finding for recovery in the amount of $8,307 was issued against Millard.

Much like previous audit findings, Superintendent Lisa Hamm used school credit cards to charge items that were not related to school business.  Checks were issued to vendors such as the Cincinnati Bengals, Benihana Steak House, Wahoo Zip Lines, Omaha Steaks, and Dixie Stampede.  The payments totaled $8,495, and a finding for recovery was issued against Hamm in that amount.

A separate special audit was initiated on December 22, 2009 after allegations of credit card misuse surfaced.  The special audit was released in June 2013 and included nearly $520,000 in findings for recovery related to inappropriate expenditures made by Hamm and Millard.  The Hamilton County Prosecutor obtained indictments against Hamm and Millard on March 6, 2013 on 26 charges of theft in office, unauthorized use of property, tampering with evidence and tampering with records.  The CCPA Board of Directors terminated the employment of Hamm and Millard on March 18, 2013.

A full copy of this audit may be accessed online.

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The Auditor of State’s office, one of five independently elected statewide offices in Ohio, is responsible for auditing more than 5,700 state and local government agencies.  Under the direction of Auditor Dave Yost, the office also provides financial services to local governments, investigates and prevents fraud in public agencies and promotes transparency in government.

Contact:
Carrie Bartunek
Press Secretary
614-644-1111