State Auditor Shad White speaks in Columbus

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – More than $4 million in mishandled taxpayer money has been identified in the past 10 months.

State Auditor Shad White said some of that cash was stolen or misappropriated.

His office has also brought charges against those accused of mishandling money.

White said this is an increase over previous years and he credits his investigators.

The state agency can audit counties, state agencies and federal dollars.

State law prevented the auditor’s office from auditing municipalities.

However, White vowed to investigate any reports of fraud.

“If anybody reports any sort of embezzlement or malfeasance we would investigate if it involved a city and the answer is absolutely yes. If somebody came to us and said here is an allegation of money that was stolen or misspent, we take all those allegations seriously and we investigate them as long as they involve public funds,” said White.

White spoke to the Columbus Exchange Club Thursday.