It's unknown how long the latest RCMP investigation into Dawson City's finances could take, Cpl. Dan Gaudet, Dawson's detachment commander, said this morning.

The investigation began April 3 after town officials contacted RCMP about missing money, which Gaudet would only say isn't a large amount.

He would not go into further details about the case.

'It's in the hundreds of dollars. At this point, we're concerned about any money missing,' said town manager Paul Moore.

As soon as the accounting staff became aware of the missing funds, Moore said, he was informed of the situation and immediately brought it to the RCMPs attention.

It was one of the more recent controls brought in after a forensic audit of the town's finances that caught the fact the money was missing.

'We have very tight controls,' said Moore.

The 2005 audit by Vancouver-based auditor Ian Doddington stated money was mismanaged by the town's former mayor, manager and treasurer.

The audit concluded ex-mayor Glenn Everitt owed $107,609.69, former CAO Scott Coulson owed $60,542.97 and ex-treasurer Dale Courtice owed $33,520.77.

The audit was turned over to police, but criminal charges haven't been laid. The RCMP commercial crime unit continues to investigate it, Gaudet said.

Since that audit was done, additional accounting measures and controls have been taken and followed daily by staff, said Moore.

Bills paid for at the front desk of town offices are accounted for at the end of each day, for example.

As for an estimate to how long the investigation could take, Gaudet said: 'It depends on how it goes.'

The former mayor and council were fired by Community Services Minister Glenn Hart in April 2004 over growing concerns about the town's management of its money, several major projects and its $4-million-plus debt.

Ray Hayes was then appointed as the town's trustee and remained in what he believed was to be a one-year term until the end of last month when he resigned.

Leo Chasse has replaced Hayes as trustee until a new council and mayor are in place. The Yukon government has set a deadline of June 15 to call a municipal election in the community.