audit released by the state comptroller's office Tuesday documented multiple instances where employees of the Sevier County Utility District misused ratepayer funds and other resources.According to a news release, district officials sought reimbursements for expenses not allowed under their travel policy and allowed employees to spend funds on personal clothing allowances.The comptroller said district funds were used for vanity license plates and satellite radio in a GMC Denali used by the district's president. The president also ordered employees to build and install a grill island and fire pit burner at his home, the report said.The audit also revealed that a former district vice president worked out a deal with a local car dealership to allow him to purchase a district-owned pickup at a discounted price. The report said he then traded the vehicle in on the purchase of a new vehicle and received a trade-in allowance of approximately $10,000 more than he paid for the vehicle.The comptroller said that transaction had been referred to the District Attorney General for possible prosecution. Other record-keeping issues were also noted in the audit."Any amount of waste, fraud or abuse of public money is unacceptable," Comptroller Justin P. Wilson said in the release. "In this case, there are numerous examples of utility district funds being misspent or improperly documented. I hope utility district/>
