West Haven a troubling sign for public spending

The news out of West Haven reads like a worst-case scenario. With millions of dollars of federal money flowing into the state and local communities to deal with COVID and its aftermath, there was always a worry that some money would be misdirected. That has now been shown to be the case in one town, and it’s essential that we know how many more communities are in the same position.

An audit commissioned by the state Office of Policy and Management found that West Haven officials didn’t properly document many of its expenditures using money from the federal CARES Act, and that the city used funds on items that were not allowed under federal guidelines. And it wasn’t a small amount -- of the $1.1 million the community received, the city apparently misspent nearly $893,000.

Much of that will now need to be repaid to the federal government.

The audit followed the arrest and resignation this year of state Rep. Michael DiMassa, a Democrat who also worked as an assistant to the city council. In that case, DiMassa and another city employee face charges of funneling more than $636,000 in federal pandemic relief funds to an alleged shell company, with DiMassa’s role overseeing those relief funds apparently allowing the alleged fraud to occur.

The audit, however, goes well beyond anything associated with DiMassa’s case. This isn’t about theft, necessarily, as much as it’s about basic misuse of public funds.

Some of it could sound comical in a different context. There was the $8,400 to purchase commemorative coins, $7,600 on a marching band, $19,600 to a city councilman’s towing business, and other small-bore expenditures, all of which add up to significant spending. But there’s more, including money for projects never completed, other funds for unclear purposes and some that state officials suggested could be referred to federal prosecutors. This is nowhere near over.

The issue goes far beyond any one community. This is about basic trust in government. When people see one town misusing public funds, it’s easy enough to assume every town does it.

That makes life harder for all the thousands of public officials and state workers who aren’t cheating the system. It makes their jobs that much more difficult when they have to break through a barrier of public doubt, something made worse every time a new story like the one in West Haven is uncovered.

But that’s equally why it’s so important that these stories are told. There will never be a system that eliminates wrongdoing, but it’s vital that such actions are uncovered and punished. Only by an assurance that there’s nothing to be gained by stealing public money will people be assured that it isn’t just business as usual, as so many people might assume.

The state has a ways to go to regain public trust. Even if all the wrongdoing is confined to one town, the suspicions will be much greater. That’s why it’s important that all spending, especially related to COVID relief funds, be open to public scrutiny. People need assurance the money is being well-spent.

The issue goes far beyond West Haven. It’s vital for the public to know it stops there, too.

This is about basic trust in government. When people see one town misusing public funds, it’s easy enough to assume every town does it.