Latest arrogance, oops, audit at DPI
Published August 29, 2013
By Becki Gray
by Becki Gray, John Locke Foundation and NC SPIN panelist, August 27, 2013.
State Auditor Beth Wood released a new investigative report today on the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI).
For nine months a technical services analyst at DPI filed for $3,403.03 in travel expenses reimbursement. Problem is, she never actually traveled, nevertheless she knowingly filed false information.
She was clearly wrong and management with DPI should have caught it and were wrong not to have monitored the requests for reimbursement and allow these false claims to continue.
A former division director engaged in prohibited discussions about returning to work within six months of retirement, in clear violation of state law.
In response to the audit, management at DPI is consulting with their Human Resources folks “to determine appropriate disciplinary action”. With that, DPI says appropriate action has been taken to address the findings in the audit and say they have implemented procedures so it won’t happen again. End of story.
Well, that should make everyone feel better, right? Not the auditor. Woods says “DPI’s response includes certain implications that are misleading and inaccurate.”
What do you think? Honest remorse and effort to get things right or just more arrogance from DPI ?
August 29, 2013 at 9:10 am
Richard Bunce says:
That's what government bureaucrats do... in the meantime the government education system these bureaucrats oversee still produces a majority of students reading below grade level.
August 29, 2013 at 2:03 pm
dj anderson says:
Beth Wood could run for governor. Wonder how an auditor mentality would work within politics?
Anyone who has worked for the state has seen this kind of thing. In the 60s I would watch the orange pick-ups fill up as they left the lot on Fridays, then come Monday, watch the same truck fill up again, with remnant of hay in the back at times. It's not so common in the computer age, I'm sure, but there's always going to be takers willing to steal and lie.
It's good to see people being caught because that means someone is checking and doing their job. When no one is being fired, being charged, then you know someone is getting away with something.
First thing, the supervising person signing the transportation reimbursement forms should be demoted, and then the new supervisor should fire the thief and a higher supervisor should file criminal fraud charges and get it on the thief's record and compensation be paid the taxpayer.
August 30, 2013 at 12:03 am
Norm Kelly says:
Another government agency scr-wing the taxpayer. Not news.
Another government agency where no one will be punished. Not news.
Another government agency that says since the report was produced, guilty people were found, the problem is now solved. Not news.
Look, squirrels!
"there is no story there" or was it "there is no there there"?
A distraction will soon be brought up that takes concern for "petty" issues like this out of the public eye. With billions in the budget, what's a measly 3 thousand dollars? You are supposed to be like a good government employee and not think about what this really means. If it's happening in 1 place, the "culture of corruption" is widespread enough that it's happening in way too many places. Add up enough 3 thousand dollars and it starts to become real money. When it's in MY back pocket it's real money. When the government confiscates it from me, takes it OUT of my back pocket, then it seems that it's no longer real money. How exactly does this transition take place? Since I prefer real money, I obviously prefer it in MY back pocket.
Stories like this need to be spread more widely, actually make news headlines, and follow through to see that real action takes place.
