I’ve mentioned Jack Wells a lot in the past few weeks. He is a good guy. He has some very strong opinions about the mandated “leave” of Kathleen Davies, imposed by Delaware State Auditor Tom Wagner. We all do these days. I have yet to hear anyone say “Wagner did the right thing”. It just reeks of corruption! But enough babbling, let’s hear it from the good Jack!
During the last 6 years the Auditor of Accounts has expended $29,500.27 for Lodg-Hotl-Out of State, of this amount Kathleen Davis expended $1,953.01 or $325.50 a year. Three other employees expended $1,262,55, the Delaware Online Checkbook does not identify the employees who expended the other $26,284.71.
The article that appeared in yesterday’s News Journal did not reveal what Kathleen Davis did wrong, it did not contain the above facts nor did the article identify;
a. Who approved Kathleen Davis travel.
b. Who approved Kathleen Davis request for reimbursement that have to be supported by invoices/hotel bills.
Hopefully The News Journal will, in a very short time write a follow-up that provides the answers to the above questions and informs the readers if funds were misused. I would think since two months had passed since she was placed on leave, this could have been determined before the information was released to the News Journal.
The article stated that using the P Card provided more oversight, however when I checked the P Card for this category of expense, it identified the hotel not the individuals. {Marriott, Chicago received $893.96. FY2016}
Over the last several years under Kathleen Davis supervision detail reports have been written on fraud, waste and abuse. The Performance Reviews on Entitlements reveal big problems, as have audits on the used of Petty Cash in some of our Charter Schools. The report on DDOE procedures on verification of student enrollment by category revealed a major problem, that DDOE made no effort to verify funds were being used for the purpose they were provided. The report also revealed DDOE requested Auditor of Accounts conduct a review to verify funds were used for the purpose provided, but AOA refused. {This report was rescinded by AOA, no reason have been provided.}
I find it unacceptable that hundreds of hours are devoted to verify the state is not providing more funding to our children than they earn, while both AOA and DDOE provide NO oversight to verify the expenditure of these funds are legal and used for the purpose the funds are provided.
While I support audits on travel and use of petty cash to reduce fraud, waste and abuse, I find it obscene NO oversight is being provided on the expenditure of 2.4 billion annually the public has provided for the education of our children. Clearly the lack of oversight on $2.4 billion annually provides opportunities for fraud, waste and abuse, and based on the findings in audit reports conducted under the supervision of Kathleen Davis on the used of credit cards, it is clear we have fraud, waste and abuse. Last year our children with special needs represented 14% of our enrollment, however these children earned 33% of Div. I Regular and Special Education Units and many other units. Are we sure all this funding is used for the purpose the funds were provided?
Jack Wells
Well said Jack, well said!
The Season Of Myths 