Treasurer skips $215K in money owed
STEVENS POINT - Portage County Treasurer Stephanie Stokes failed to pay more than $215,000 owed to county employees and vendors this month, according to county documents.
In a memo dated May 16, Portage County Executive Patty Dreier wrote to Stokes to inform her that a county employee's complaint about a delayed mileage-reimbursement check led to the discovery that Stokes had failed to release 153 deposits, totaling $215,575, to employees and vendors when they were due.
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"It was your responsibility to see to it that these transactions were processed properly and completely," Dreier wrote. "I note that last week, you made time to pen a letter to the editors of local newspapers touting your competence and skill. Yet, these transactions were not processed appropriately on Friday."
The memo states the issue was corrected by noon so that everyone would be paid the following day.
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Stokes oversees a department that has been the subject of multiple investigations since late 2015, although county officials have declined to comment on the reason for the probes or their findings. Portage County's district attorney asked that the state Department of Justice take over a police investigation to avoid a conflict of interest for his department. The state's special prosecutor is continuing the investigation, according to the Department of Justice. The state agency has turned down two open-records requests on the matter from USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.
The county's Finance Committee also hired an attorney to investigate activity in the office, stating it would be the best way to maintain confidentiality and prevent information from leaking to the public.
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Dreier wrote in her memo to Stokes that it was unacceptable for people to go without money the county owes them. She said she was documenting the matter because of its seriousness, in a memo to County Board Chairman Phil Idsvoog, Deputy Treasurer Lisa Burant and the county's Finance Committee, which oversees the treasurer's office.
"To let things go without the Finance Committee being aware was not in my view in the best interest of the county," Dreier told USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin in an interview Thursday.
Stokes did not respond to requests for comment.
Sari Lesk: 715-345-2257 or sari.lesk@gannettwisconsin.com; on Twitter @Sari_Lesk.