Historical society director to stay on during audit

BOISE, Idaho – Steven Guerber, director of the Idaho State Historical Society, will stay in his job during an audit of his agency’s travel vouchers and credit card spending, the organization’s board voted Wednesday.

A recent state review of 10 expense summaries Guerber turned in between 2002 and 2005 found overpayments to him of $700. Boise police are also investigating.

Public officials’ use of taxpayer-funded credit cards and travel vouchers has received heightened scrutiny in Idaho since former Boise Mayor Brent Coles pleaded guilty in 2003 to two felony counts of misusing public funds. Coles acknowledged filing a false reimbursement expense for tickets to a Broadway show in New York City in fall 2002 and allegedly used taxpayer money to pay for airfare, lodging, meals and car rental.

Guerber has said the recent audit of his travel spending records unearthed mistakes, but not wrongdoing.

With the upcoming full audit, Historical Society trustees want to make certain that’s the case. Tony Edmondson, chairman of the seven-member board, said trustees opted to extend the audit – to be conducted by the state controller’s office – to include all travel and credit card spending by Historical Society employees, not just Guerber’s.