More than 40 local government agencies across North Carolina bought overpriced supplies from a cleaning supply company that gave kickbacks such as gift cards, golf balls and T-shirts.

State Auditor Les Merritt said Thursday the 44 agencies spent a total of $150,000 with Stone Cold Chemicals between August 1998 and February 2003.

In return, they received kickbacks worth nearly $15,000.

A similar report last week on purchases by the state Transportation Department recommended disciplinary action for employees involved, who broke state law by accepting the gifts.

The town of Denton's wastewater treatment department spent the most, nearly $38,000 on 19 purchases between August 2000 and February 2003. The agency netted $4300 in gifts in return.

Denton Town Manager William Pless didn't return a telephone message left late Thursday afternoon.

Florida investigators have said at least 2,000 public workers in 48 states accepted kickbacks such as gift certificates, hunting and fishing gear, sports team clothing and other inexpensive items. The goodies came in exchange for buying Stone Cold products at prices many times higher than the going market rates.

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