Audit: Former Tarboro City Manager Made $366K In Excessive Purchases | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: The author of this post is Barry Smith, who is an associate editor for the Carolina Journal, John Hood Publisher.

Noble also received $87K in insurance premiums without permission

    RALEIGH – A state audit has found numerous violations and irregularities centered on former Tarboro Town Manager Sam Noble.

    The investigative audit released by State Auditor Beth Wood's office found that over a six-year period the former town manager made nearly $366,000 in purchases that exceeded the scope of his duties and that he obtained more than $87,000 for universal life insurance premiums without approval of the Tarboro Town Council.

    The audit also found that a former accounting clerk, who left her job voluntarily, may have violated state law by obtaining more than $30,000 in unemployment benefits that she was not eligible to receive.

    In addition, the audit found that the current mayor, who was the former Electric Department director, received almost $28,000 in reimbursements for his ex-wife's health insurance and that the council failed to oversee town operations adequately to ensure accountability.

    The audit recommends that the council get legal assistance regarding repayment of the inappropriately spent funds and regularly review the town manager's performance, including an analysis of his expenses. It also asks the Division of Employment Security to determine whether the clerk violated state law by obtaining improper unemployment benefits. And it recommended that the town require the current mayor to repay misrepresented reimbursements for his ex-wife's health insurance.

    The audit's findings have been referred to the State Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the N.C. Department of Revenue, and the Division of Employment Security for legal disposition.

    Check back with Carolina Journal Online for updates to this story.