Richard Moody is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the state Comptroller’s Office June 8, released a report showing the Athens Town Clerk failed to deposit collected fees or real property taxes within the state-imposed time frame, thereby increasing the risk of loss or theft. The Comptroller’s office reviewed five months of collected taxes and deposit activity, from Jan. 1, 2016 and Aug. 4, 2017. During that time the town collected $3.5 million in property taxes and $11,179 in fees. In at least two instances, funds collected were not deposited for weeks. Of the 150 cash collections during the months reviewed by auditors, 75 percent were deposited from 1 to 33 days after receipt instead of within the required time frame, according to the report. The auditors also reviewed the clerk's records and found she did not always reconcile the town's accounting records with its bank statements. No money was found to be missing or stolen, according to the report. Linda Stacey has served as the town clerk in Athens for 36 years. “I’ve been doing my job for a long time,” Stacey said this week. “You cannot get everything in the bank right away all the time.” Stacey said she is working on a response to submit to the state Comptroller’s office. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.