CSU Official Receives
$152,441 For Excessive Travel, High-End Dining Expenses and More. An official in the California State
University (CSU) Chancellor's Office received improper expense reimbursements
of $152,441 between July 2005 and July 2008, according to a state audit. The
employee, who is not named in the auditor's report, was a senior official in
the CSU Department of Information Technology Services.
While department
officials often travel to different university campuses throughout the state,
whistleblowers suspected the official of "improper government
activity." They were right, according to the auditor. An audit found
improper expenses for travel, business meals, commuting and monthly living
allowances. From July 2005 to July 2008, the official traveled to London,
Amsterdam, Shanghai, Singapore and Melbourne, but the audit found that none of
the trips had any "clear or demonstrable benefit to the State or
university." Travel within the United States included trips to San
Antonio, Boston, New Hampshire, and Washington, D.C. The auditor found that the
university system does not have policies regarding lodging expense limits.
The official also
received reimbursements for costly meals. In April 2007, he bought dinner for
14 CSU staff members at a total cost of $2,332, or $167 per person. Total
reimbursements for meals between 2005 and 2008 amounted to $26,455.
Despite CSU policies
prohibiting commute reimbursements over a 25-mile limit, the official was
reimbursed $43,288 for travel between his home in Northern California and his
work headquarters in Long Beach.
Other expenses
included long-term living reimbursements totaling $24,676 and an additional
$17,053 in reimbursements for personal expenses, such as an executive airline
club membership and non-work-related telecommunications expenses. (Source: California
State Auditor Report I2007-1158, December 3.)
Cal-Taxletter, December 4, 2009
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