PORT ANGELES — A fraud report from the state auditor’s office has forced the Shore Metropolitan Park District to confront widespread breakdowns in its financial controls — failures involving credit card use, disbursements, cash receipts and financial reporting that auditors said allowed improper spending to go undetected and left commissioners without accurate information about how public funds were used.
Among the Nov. 3 findings were a lack of guidelines and policies for ensuring the district complied with state regulations for its self-insurance medical program, and an inability to account for $2,183 it received from the IRS.
The junior taxing district funds Shore Aquatic Center and operates on an annual budget of about $2.7 million.
The board consisting Port Angeles City Council members Navarra Carr and LaTrisha Suggs, Clallam County commissioners Mike French and Randy Johnson and community member Greg Shield learned of the investigation last spring.
On Oct. 28, it agreed to place Shore Aquatic Center Executive Director Steve Burke on paid administrative leave.
The auditor’s office identified more than $33,000 in unsupported payments from Feb. 21, 2019, through Aug. 19, 2025 — most involving Burke.
“We are very surprised and disappointed to read the audit reports,” Burke said in a prepared statement. “I appreciate the support I’ve received in this trying time. We look forward to the opportunity to share the full facts at the appropriate time, and I’m confident that ultimately this will be resolved with no adverse results.”
The board accepted the findings from the auditor’s fraud report and accountability audit.
It agreed to recommendations that include reconciling all transactions with bank statements, improving documentation, training staff involved in financial reporting and maintaining records in accordance with state law.
It also is in the process of hiring a new treasurer after interim treasurer Stan Creasey requested a leave of absence on Oct. 28 to handle a family health issue. French was chosen to take on that duty until a new job description could be written and someone could be hired as treasurer, a part-time position.
Stephanie Sullivan, a special investigations program manager with the state auditor’s office, said the inquiry began when concerns emerged during a routine accountability audit. Auditors always assess the risk of employee misappropriation, she said, but spending patterns and weak internal controls at Shore Aquatic Center prompted a deeper review.
A key finding was the lack of monitoring of accounting systems, such as bank and credit card reconciliation. The district also failed to segregate duties — a basic internal control safeguard designed to prevent any one person from managing all steps of financial transactions.
“No one, independent of the executive director, looked at those credit card statements of charges he was making,” Sullivan said.
The audit also faulted the board for insufficient supervision of Burke. Sullivan said such governance lapses are common, especially in small public entities with limited administrative staff.
“It’s great to trust your employees, but you’ve got to verify what they’re doing,” she said.
Adam Wilson, communications director for the auditor’s office, said inadequate monitoring is one of the most frequent contributors to fraud cases statewide.
In fiscal year 2024, the auditor’s office conducted 2,724 audits. Just 21 — less than 1 percent — escalated into full fraud investigation reports.
“That gives you a sense of how rare those reports are,” Wilson said.
The auditor’s office referred its report to the Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Prosecutor Mark Nichols forwarded the case to the state Attorney General due to a potential conflict of interest because county and city employees sit on the board.
In an email, a representative of the state Attorney General’s office confirmed receiving the case, saying such requests are common.
“Our office has not made a decision whether to take authority over the case or defer back to the local jurisdiction,” the representative said.
Wilson emphasized that the state auditor’s office role is not to determine criminal intent.
“We investigate the possibility of fraud,” he said. “It is up to the local prosecutor to determine whether they believe a crime occurred.”
The auditor’s office has closed its investigation but will review the district’s progress during its next audit.
Burke was hired in 2010 to work 20 hours a week at $2,500 per month, plus $275 monthly for benefits, a $50 weekly cell-phone stipend and reimbursement for approved travel. His 2014 contract renewal kept his hours and salary at the same levels but added a termination clause, increased his benefits and added a $250 monthly vehicle allowance and a 5 percent district contribution to the Washington Deferred Compensation Program.
The auditor’s office reported that the district was unable to provide a signed copy of either agreement. Nor did it appear to have conducted the annual performance reviews of Burke that were required.
Burke also serves on the Port of Port Angeles board of commissioners. He was reelected to that post in the Nov. 4 general election — the day after the auditor’s office report was released.
“These matters do not involve port operations or activities,” Port commission president Colleen McAleer said during the port’s Nov. 12 meeting.
She directed the public to the port’s online archive of financial statements and audit reports.
“The port will continue to focus on its mission and services to the community,” McAleer said. “We are monitoring developments and will provide updates if any impact to port business may arise.”
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Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached by email at paula.hunt@peninsuladailynews.com.
