Newton County Auditor brings receipts on overpayment

NEWTON COUNTY - The East Texas Banner reached out to the Newton County Auditor’s Office to get to the bottom of the Newton County Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office overpayment to Deweyville Independent School District.

According to the Auditor’s Office, the office made requests for the Assessor-Collector report starting in February but did not receive anything until July. On July 10^th, the Tax Assessor-Collector went to the Auditor’s Office; after contacting the District Attorney’s Office, stating they could not balance the account, according to the Auditor’s Office.

In August, the Auditor’s Office hired a new employee to fill an open position. Due to the importance of this matter, the new employee was given the task to specifically audit and find the missing funds tied to the Assessor-Collector’s Office. On September 10th, the employee found the missing money. The employee also found the events that led to the overpayment amounting to $68,242.73. This overpay was the result of duplicate wire transfer payments. The payments were processed through two transfers on January 31st.

According to the Auditor’s Office, throughout this process, they were given multiple explanations by the Tax Assessor-Collector as to why the money was missing but never provided backup or evidence.  

According to the Audit Findings: Receipts show that Tracy Noble, employed at the Tax Assessor Collector’s Office, makes payment to Deweyville ISD on January 15^th, 23^rd & 28^th, with authorized signatures from Shari Thompson and Tax Assessor-Collector Melissa Burks. The receipts also show that payments for $11,710.95 and $56,531.78 were prepared by “MJB” and signed off on by Melissa Burks on January 31st, totaling $68,242.73.

Cochran also said in an earlier interview, “On January 31^st, one employee sent a payment to Deweyville ISD that was for January 20^th – 26^th, which was the correct amount they were supposed to receive. Then on February 12^th, one of the other ladies paid Deweyville ISD January 20^th-31^st, overlapping the initial payment made to the ISD by 6 days.” Cochran went on to say, “I thought this was the only time this had happened, but the financial lady from the school said this happened in 2023, and the school caught it.”

ETB reached out to the Newton County Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office but has not received a response.