JACKSON, Miss. – Special agents from the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor have delivered a civil demand to Mary Washington, Noxubee County Chancery Clerk. The amount of the demand is $38,555.78 and includes interest and investigative costs.

Washington donated nearly $20,000 in public funds that were intended for office expenses to multiple local churches. The illegal charitable donations took place from January 2010 to December 2012.

State Auditor Shad White said: “It should go without saying that you can’t use taxpayers’ money to pay your tithe to your church. Elected officials have to use common sense. If you or an organization you belong to is benefitting from your position in the government, and the taxpayers are paying for it, odds are you are doing something wrong. We’re going to continue to make sure money like this is repaid to the taxpayers and officials are held responsible.”