A recent state comptroller’s audit has uncovered significant financial mismanagement in the town of Throop, including lapses in competitive bidding and procurement practices.
The investigation, which led to the exposure of crimes by former Throop Supervisor William Tarby, highlighted that the town did not establish a procurement policy until September 2020 and failed to secure competitive bids for numerous projects totaling over $1.4 million from January 2017 to April 2021.
The audits targeted both general town operations and the highway department, revealing that Throop did not follow state-required competitive bidding for 72 purchases and neglected to enter written agreements for professional services.
Moreover, the town’s highway department lacked a formal agreement for roadwork expenditures and did not maintain a detailed inventory of equipment, increasing the risk of loss and misuse.
In response to the audit, current Throop Supervisor Eric Ridley acknowledged the findings and assured that the town has revised its procurement procedures and is implementing the comptroller’s recommendations to enhance financial governance.
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