NEWBERN, TN (abc24.com) - There's big trouble and scandal in a small Tennessee town after the local school district was over charged nearly a quarter of a million dollars for city services.
One longtime employee of the city of Newbern is suspended with pay while the city conducts an investigation.
The utilities officer manager, Rosalind Green, has worked for the city of Newbern for about 40 years and no one can believe she's knowingly responsible for this mistake.
It sits high above the tiny town of Newbern and the water tower can be seen from nearly everywhere in the City. But how much is what's inside worth to residents? According to the Dyer County School system, way too much. Over the past four years the district says it was over charged $200,000 for water and sewer services; that's about $50,000 a year. The city's Mayor says there's an internal investigation against Green.
Green wasn't home when abc24.com tried to reach her, but her friend who lives up the road was. Angie Ring says, "I don't understand it. Rosalind's such a sweet honest person that anything I've heard could not be true. She's a nice person and would never do anything wrong to hurt anyone."
The investigation began in March after the school system contacted them about overpayment. The Mayor made no comment when asked if embezzlement was a possibility.
Ring says she wouldn't believe it, "On Rosalind's part? Oh, not purposeful at all, if it did happen it was an accident completely... I felt so bad for her because I've known her so long it just broke my heart."
The city-hired auditors will be looking to see if the school system is the only victim, and who's ultimately responsible.
The Mayor did not say how long the investigation would take.
