Accounting errors will force Lafayette YWCA will pay back $105K

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The YWCA of Greater Lafayette must pay $105,000 to the state because it did not contribute its portion of a state matching grant between July 2013 and June 2017, according to a report published April 30.

The Indiana Office of Inspector General investigated whether the YWCA of Greater Lafayette complied with 15 grants from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, which required the YWCA to match a percentage of the grant money when it was spent, according to the inspector general's report. The grants were to serve domestic violence victims.

The investigation found $89,834.01 in failures to comply with the matches for grants and $39,399 for an audit. The YWCA and the state reached a settled agreement that the YWCA pay back $105,000.

Lindsey Mickler, the director of the YWCA, provided the Journal & Courier with a written statement about the investigation.

"YWCA Greater Lafayette is relieved that this matter from 2013-2017 is resolved after working with the State Board of Accounts for several years," Mickler wrote. "We are confident all funds in question from this audit were used to provide services to victims of domestic violence and believe proper internal controls and documentation are in place now to prevent this from happening again.

The Inspector General's report stated, "(Indiana Criminal Justice Institute) found multiple instances in which YWCA had a match shortage. ... (A) match shortage occurs when a subgrantee fails to document the match expenditure set forth in the approved budget, expense summary form and/or fiscal report."

The state's Inspector General's investigation broadened to include an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice Inspector General's Office and a comprehensive audit by the Indiana State Board of Accounts.

The mistakes happened before Mickler stepped into her role, according to the report. The report indicates that Mickler cooperated with the investigation.

"After reviewing the results of the investigation and a draft of the (State Board of Account's) report the (Indiana Inspector General and Department of Justice Inspector General) investigators found insufficient evident that YWCA engage in any criminal wrongdoing," the report states. "Instead, the investigation confirmed that YWCA had internal control deficiencies and submitted unallowable reimbursements to (the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute) ... .

"We are grateful," Mickler said, "for new and renewed grant funding from Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and welcome the opportunity for additional training to ensure continued compliance with all federal, state and local guidelines.

"Our team of staff and our volunteer board of directors remains dedicated to fostering positive change and making meaningful contributions to our community as we advance the mission of YWCA Greater Lafayette to eliminate racism and empower women by promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all," Mickler said.

Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: YWCA of Lafayette will pay $105K for accounting errors