At the same time that the municipality of Saint-Simon-de-Rimouski is under investigation by the Permanent Anti-Corruption Unit (UPAC), it was revealed that $300,000 was misappropriated from municipal coffers.
During a special meeting of the municipal council held on Monday March 6, the accounting firm Malette, mandated to produce the municipality’s financial reports for 2021 and 2022, quantified the missing amounts.
Thus, in 2021, $95,946 disappeared from the municipality’s funds and in 2022, $207,924 vanished.
“Our annual budget is approximately $1,300,000, so $300,000 is a large portion of that budget,” said Mayor Denis Marcoux.
“It’s a big amount even in a big city, so all the more so in a very small municipality, it’s a very large amount,” said Danielle Pilette, associate professor in municipal management at UQAM.
To make these public funds disappear, two methods were used: personal expenses were made with the municipality’s credit card and supplier bills were “falsely” paid twice.
“The person or persons involved hid the information, presented reports so as to hide actions, information,” said the newly elected mayor.
The last few years have been marked by numerous departures from Saint-Simon. Five general managers have succeeded each other in the past four years, which has notably caused a delay in the production of financial reports.
“It created tumults, a chaos with which we had to operate,” agreed the new mayor.
Denis Marcoux wants more transparency between elected officials, the administration and citizens.
“That’s why I came, it’s to make municipal operations more transparent and I hope that after me, I will leave a way of proceeding that will last,” he specified.
He also considers that elected officials must be better supervised.
“The mayor must carry out surveillance, investigations, but we are not told how. I think we need more guidance, to know what documents we have to see, to get,” he said.
The missing sum leaves a huge hole in the finances of the small municipality. Because of the disappearance of these funds, the budget surplus of $250,000 no longer exists.
“We are 450 people, 480 counting the deer, so there are not many of us to rebuild a cushion,” said Mr. Marcoux.
The mayor, who hopes to recover some sums, does not rule out the possibility of increasing citizens’ tax bills.
“If we do it, it will be done with caution and respecting people’s ability to pay. We must also keep the municipality in a state where it can function,” he concluded.
The UPAC criminal investigation continues. No charges have yet been filed, but according to Denis Marcoux, “the file is practically closed”.
Charges are expected to be filed soon.