While teachers struggle for basic classroom supplies, Department of Education staffers are spending decadently on travel, according to a new audit.
The Department of Education bungled more than $20 million in staffer travel expenses during the 2016-2017 school year, according to a probe by Comptroller Scott Stringer.
The galling audit found that DOE employees ignored regulations for 93 percent of their travel expenses and wastefully splurged on needless hotel meetings when city facilities would have sufficed.
Stringer’s investigation into a small sample of $1 million in DOE travel expenses exposed a slew of costly irregularities.
The report uncovered $14,023 in reckless overpayments, $14,956 in unsupported credit card charges, $269,684 in purchases that were made without required bids, and more than $233,167 in hotel costs.
“As Comptroller, rooting out waste and fraud is one our office’s most important responsibilities,” Stringer said in a statement. “DOE’s failure to follow its own policy and keep close track of spending shows a disregard for taxpayers and ends up costing our students most.”
Former Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina was also targeted for her role in allowing “wasted public funds.”
Stringer noted that the DOE coughed up $60,422 to pay for a nonrefundable 2017 trip to Cuba for 16 students and 6 staffers – and that the money went up in smoke after she cancelled the jaunt for safety reasons.
To make up for the cancellation, the DOE then spent another $97,000 for a replacement trip to Brazil.
“When it comes to our schools, every single dollar counts. We can’t afford to waste dollars that should go to our kids and classrooms,” Stringer said.
The report called for a major overhaul of DOE travel expense practices.
The DOE said Wednesday that it has tightened controls since the year Stringer vetted.
“We’ve strengthened our expense reporting procedures, increased trainings for staff, and are implementing or reinforcing the recommendations in the Comptroller’s report in addition to reviewing more steps we can take to further strengthen our system,” said DOE spokesman Doug Cohen.
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