This is on top of an earlier audit that found there were 400 people on the payroll that were getting checks that did not have the money coming. I am surprised somebody has not tried to assassinate this guy for all he is uncovering. And this is the school district that had to be taken over by the state as the school board was corrupt and incompetent. This is truly sickening.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...=2009908060440 DPS audits: Dead get health care, weapons missing Equipment unused; findings that DPS wasted millions
BY NIRAJ WARIKOO • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • August 6, 2009
Two audits found millions in questionable spending in the Detroit Public Schools, including unused equipment and dead people who were registered for health benefits, emergency financial manager Robert Bobb said Wednesday.
He said he would turn over any evidence of criminal wrongdoing to county prosecutors.
Among the findings: 160 outdated BlackBerrys, 11 motorcycles, 97 two-way phones and 50 handheld radios sat unused. One audit also showed that 411 people -- including some who are dead -- were receiving health insurance even though they weren't eligible.
Ending those benefits will save the district an immediate $2.1 million, Bobb said.
"Time to bring all of this BS to a standstill," Bobb said, gazing at the equipment. "This school system cannot be viewed as a personal bank."
The findings of the audits revealed waste and financial incompetence in the state's largest school district, Bobb said. The equipment audit revealed more than $200,000 worth of unused equipment, based on what the items would cost today.
The auditors also found excessive overtime costs.
Equipment found languishing in storage
The audits released Wednesday are the latest in a series of investigations into the troubled school district examining problems with money management.
An investigation of DPS police inventory turned up more than $3.2 million in cost overruns and $200,000 worth of outdated and unused phones and medical supplies along with 11 motorcycles that haven't been used in eight to 10 years.
Officials confirmed the district's Office of Inspector General has about 100 ongoing investigations. And the spokesperson for Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said the office is investigating several cases involving possible crimes at the district.
"I don't have any more patience," Bobb said after announcing the audits' findings. "The kids deserve a lot better."
The audits revealed a lack of regard for proper accounting and vendor procedures, officials said.
"There were no procedures in place to account for the monies that were collected," said Odell Bailey, the district's auditor general.