State audit uncovers waste, ethics issues
One finding was that Caltrans failed to collect rents at a mobile home park.
SACRAMENTO — The state auditor on Thursday criticized various California agencies for ethics violations and wasteful practices, including the failure to collect nearly $315,000 in rent and utilities over five years from tenants of a mobile home park owned by Caltrans.
Auditor Elaine Howle issues reports twice a year on improper activity found by investigations her office conducts.
“Through our investigations, we found conflict of interest, violation of post-employment ethics restrictions, waste of state funds, misuse of state resources, and activities incompatible with state employment,” Howle wrote to Gov. Jerry Brown. “In total, we identified $397,000 in gifts not disclosed and in wasted funds related to improper travel expenses and mismanagement.”
The report found that the California Department of Transportation failed to properly manage a San Joaquin Valley mobile home park that it purchased in late 2010.
Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty has assigned a new agent to the project and reminded employees of proper procedures.
“The information brought to light by the state auditor does not reflect the mission, vision and goals of” Caltrans, he said in a statement. Auditors also found:
A district engineer for the State Water Resources Control Board violated conflict-of-interest law by repeatedly recommending that the state’s drinking water program enter into funding agreements with an engineering firm that employed the district engineer’s spouse, and by approving the engineering firm’s claims for payment. The firm received $3.9 million.
A peace officer supervisor for the Department of Parks and Recreation improperly accepted a gift of 24 pairs of designer sunglasses valued at $4,800 from a vendor that did business with the state. And a department supervisor improperly used her state-issued cell phone to sell beauty products, including posting her state-issued cellphone number as her contact on a Web page for her side work as a cosmetic sales consultant.
The Department of Public Health wasted $74,200 by inappropriately reimbursing the expenses of an official who commuted between Sonoma County and headquarters in Sacramento.
Napa State Hospital overpaid an employee by $2,970 for working overtime on duties that would normally have been done by lower-paid employees.
‘The information brought to light by the state auditor does not reflect the mission, vision and goals of ’ Caltrans. —Malcolm Dougherty, Caltrans director