WAMPSVILLE, MADISON CO. -- The clerk-treasurer of Wampsville is accused of stealing nearly $20,000 from taxpayers.

According to an audit made public today by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, 50-year-old Barbara Butler, of Canastota, took $18,378 by writing herself extra paychecks. And that's not all. The audit found Butler pocketed cash brought in by people paying their property taxes. DiNapoli says the crimes happened from 2008 to 2011.

"This treasurer brazenly pocketed cash handed to her in good faith by people paying their taxes," DiNapoli said. "Simple oversight of her financial records would have ended these misdeeds years before they came to light. I encourage village officials across the state to check and double-check their books to prevent these costly crimes."

Auditors from the Comptroller's office discovered the missing money while examining the village's financial records. They later forwarded their findings to Madison County Sheriff's for further investigation.

Butler is now charged with third-degree grand larceny. She allegedly told investigators she started stealing the money when she went into debt and gambled at the Turning Stone Casino.

Butler resigned August 9 after serving as the clerk-treasurer for nearly 13 years.

DiNapoli says because the Wampsville board failed to monitor her books for several years, Butler was able to allegedly steal more than 10 percent of the tiny village's annual budget.

Wampsville, in the town of Lenox in Madison County, had a budget of approximately $161,000 last year.

DiNapoli recommended the village board recover the misappropriated funds and, in the future, monitor the clerk-treasurer's financial records. Village officials agreed with the Comptroller's recommendations. Officials now require double signatures on checks, review itemized financial reports and check photocopies of all checks at each board meeting.

Read the full audit here.

If you suspect fraud, corruption or abuse of taxpayer money in your town or village, call the toll-free Fraud Hotline at (888) 672-4555. You can also file a complaint online at investigations@osc.state.ny.us or mail a complaint to: Office of the State Comptroller, Investigations Unit, 14th Floor, 110 State St., Albany, NY 12236.