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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Coeur d’Alene Prepares For Audit

The city of Coeur d'Alene may hire the accounting firm that double checked the city's finances in previous years, including at least some of the years when a finance department employee was stealing $365,000. But the city has implemented more financial checks and balances since discovering Sheryl Lynn Carroll stole that amount of money from the city, officials said Monday. They're recommending the city continue to contract with the accounting firm Magnuson, McHugh and Company for up to $29,500 to audit the city's books. "I don't think you can spend the money necessary to overcome someone that chooses to take money from your business, from the city," Troy Tymesen, pictured, city finance director, said Monday during a General Services Committee meeting on the proposed contract. "What we did is we have learned from what has taken place (and) understand better an area to improve on, which is our bank relationship, and go forward."

Question: Later in the story, the Press reports that neither Tymesen or anyone in the finance department was reprimanded in light of the embezzlement. Do you think this matter was handled properly?



D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

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