A state audit released Wednesday has revealed that the Oklahoma State Education Department used two undisclosed bank account as entertainment expense slush funds, spending over $2.3m over the decade.
“These off-book and unauthorized accounts allowed (Education Department) officials to pay, at a single event, $2,600 for 85 bottles of wine and 3 kegs of beer and $5,700 for food items including a ‘chocolate fountain,’ ‘Maryland crabcakes,’ ‘mini beef wellingtons,’ and ‘smoked salmon mousse in a puff pastry,’ without following any of the requirements normally associated with government expenditures,” the report from the state Auditor and Inspector’s Office says.The accounts were set up under the leadership of former state schools Superintendent Sandy Garrett who was in office from 1990 to 2010.
The slush funds allowed Education Department officials to pay for alcohol, food and lodging “shielded from governmental oversight as well as public scrutiny.”
Garrett denies any misuse of funds, claiming that the scandal is simply a misunderstanding and that the funds creation and use was approved by the attorney general at the time.
“I’ve been in public office for a long time and the last thing I would condone or approve is any type of illegal activity,”A major issue with the use of the accounts is that they show expenditure for wine, beer and various luxury food items. However taxpayer funds cannot be used to pay for food or beverages, and any agency wishing to serve such items would need to solicit private donations to cover the cost.
“Anytime you gather funds as a state employee, on state time, those funds should be deposited into a state account. Obviously, that didn’t happen,” state Auditor and Inspector Gary Jones said. “When you start looking at how the money was spent, I think there were obviously ways the money was spent that were not legal, like alcohol.”The attorney general’s office is currently reviewing the audit and it is currently unclear what action will be taken by law enforcement officials.
Do you think this audit ruins the reputation of the Education Department? Do you think this will deter other prospective students (undergraduate/graduate) to apply and attend the university?
I think it definitely demonstrates a misuse of funds on behalf of the Education Department, which will probably lead to increased scrutiny and oversight (which seems to have bee lacking previously). However, I do not anticipate that it will negatively impact student enrollment or deter prospective students, especially freshman students. In my opinion, it does not seem as though freshman and undergraduate transfer students research things such as department spending when choosing which college to attend. What are others thoughts?
ReplyDeleteDid they seriously think that this wouldn't eventually get out? With budgets they way they are, I am surprised that it didn't come out sooner as people are trying to find ways to tighten purse strings. I think they definitely going to be under scrutiny for a while. Unfortunately if they are like Illinois, they will institute things to manage control, but yet the government (which is the reason why it was instituted in the first place) will not have to follow the rules ie. ethics training, procurement, etc. With all the scandals that Illinois has had, students are still interested in coming here. I think the same would hold true for Oklahoma. The way they handle money is not admirable, but yet the programs that they offer are not as tarnished and therefore still attractive to students. As long as you still have leading programs in the country, the numbers will still be there.
ReplyDelete