FERRIDAY, La. — A report released Monday by State Auditor Dan Kyle confirmed that $140,701 is missing from Town of Ferriday coffers — $22,879 more than originally thought.

A March 13 report by Kyle said ex-water clerk Kathy Green and ex-Town Clerk Ida Tolliver admitted to stealing $114,927 in property tax and utility payments and posting $2,895 in bogus utility credits between July 1998 and February 2000. Green was fired Feb. 23; Tolliver fired Feb. 29.

Auditor’s officials had been back several times to look over 1999 tax records — and on Monday, issued their findings.

&uot;I&160;won’t say we’ll never be back in Ferriday, but this should conclude our work on this (matter),&uot;&160;Kyle said. &uot;We advised the town to set up checks and balances to insure this doesn’t happen again, and they’ve pledged to do that.&uot;

The town of little more than 4,000 people will have a tough time making ends meet without that money, said Billy Rucker, Town Council Finance Chairman.

Green and Tolliver &uot;are each bonded for $50,000, if they get convicted, I would hope they would have to make restitution on the remaining balance,&uot;&160;Rucker said. &uot;We’ll have to make do … and sweat it out until then.&uot;

Both women pleaded not guilty March 29 to charges of malfeasance and theft. Their next date in Seventh Judicial District Court will be a June 28 appearance before Judge Leo Boothe.

Neither Tolliver and Green nor their attorneys — Phillip Dugas of Baton Rouge and Jack Owens of Harrisonburg, respectively — could be reached for comment Monday.