LINCOLN- In Nebraska, 14 city and village clerks have been charged for theft or violating public resources over the past decade.

Those clerks, plus another who took money but wasn’t charged, stole an estimated $1.7 million from 17 small towns across the state, according to audit reports and restitution orders.

A whopping 158 towns in Nebraska have gone more than 20 years without a full financial audit, including four towns where former clerks were charged with theft.

While clerks acting as treasurers are legally required to complete continuing education classes through the state each year, there’s no such required training for people elected to a city or village board.

The lack of experience, training and oversight often means that village clerks are caught only after taking money for an extended period of time.

Many small Nebraska towns operate on a system of trust and not a system of verification.

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