California State Controller Betty Yee has released a scathing audit showing hoards of taxpayer money wasted in South El Monte between the fiscal years 2013 and 2015. According to the review, officials used city credit cards on everything from alcohol and Vegas hotels to expensive electronics without proper documentation. The former city manager even charged $3,000 to the city card for a cheerleading camp.
Give me an A for absurd.
Ninety percent of the city’s internal controls were inadequate, the report concluded. As a result, consultants and other professional service organizations were regularly raking in more than their fair share of funds. $390,000 went to a consultant whose contract had already expired. One contractor was able to bill the city around $1 million without submitting any time cards.
Yee is blasting the city for “a culture of incompetence and disregard for taxpayer dollars.” Her audit comes nearly a year after its former mayor Luis Aguinaga pleaded guilty to accepting $45,000 in bribes from a city contractor. He has been sentenced to one year in federal prison.
“I think our city was a mess,” said Councilman Joe Gonzales. “I just don’t think there was any type of checks and balances whatsoever.”
Though the city has taken steps to correct the problems, Gonzales would like to see more done to ensure this kind of abuse never happens again.
Read the audit here.