Lawrence commissioners expect final audit in Felasco's offices today

Commissioners intend to contact their bonding company for repayment.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lawrence County commissioners will get the final audit early today detailing how much money is missing from the county coffers.
Commissioner Steve Craig said he expects a six-figure number from auditing firm Packer Thomas, which has offices in Youngstown and New Castle.
"I think it will confirm some of our worst fears that additional funds are missing," Craig said.
An initial audit by Packer Thomas detailing that more than $40,000 was missing from the county treasurer and tax claim bureau offices from October 2003 to December 2003 is the basis for criminal charges filed against county treasurer Gary Felasco.
Opening statements in the trial of Felasco, 39, will be Monday in Franklin, Pa., on the charges. The jury was picked Monday.
Police contend that Felasco was pocketing cash payments made to the treasurer's office and then substituting them with mailed checks to make the books balance.
He would later have the names of those who paid by mail, but were not credited, deleted from lists of delinquent taxpayers, police said. At that time, Felasco was also the appointed director of the county tax claim bureau, the county agency in charge of delinquent taxes.
What happened
The scheme came to light after Felasco was removed as tax claim director in March 2004 and residents who had paid their taxes started appearing on delinquent lists. Felasco was removed as tax claim director when county commissioners learned the treasurer had not paid property taxes on his Cunningham Avenue home for four years.
"The good news from this audit is that once we removed him from the tax claim office, the ability to misappropriate funds changed," Craig said.
Commissioner Dan Vogler said today's findings will cover Felasco's entire tenure as tax claim bureau director from January 2000 to the end of 2003. Those findings will be forwarded to the Pennsylvania attorney general, who is handling Felasco's prosecution.
Craig added that the county will also notify its bonding company and make a claim for any missing funds.
cioffi@vindy.com