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Politics
Auditor questions officials' moving expenses
Hillsborough has no policy for paying moving costs, says the auditor, who is leaving her job.
By BILL VARIAN
Published December 29, 2006
TAMPA - Hillsborough County government has few rules for how it pays moving costs of newly hired top executives, which results in differing treatment and some questionable expenses picked up by taxpayers, according to an internal auditor. "There's nothing at all. There's no policy, no procedures, nothing," said internal performance auditor Kathleen Mathews, who is leaving her job this week after conflicts with county commissioners and her staff. Mathews examined the moving and house-hunting expenses paid for 10 county executives from 2003 to 2005. She found things to note about seven of them. At least one employee spotlighted, County Attorney Renee Lee, challenged the report's accuracy. "I guess this is her kissoff to everybody," said Lee, a charge Mathews denied. Some highlights: - The county paid $2,725 to Assistant County Administrator Manus O'Donnell, hired in 2004 for a starting salary of $112,000, in part for a 14-day stay at Tampa's Wyndham Westshore hotel and as mileage reimbursement for driving two cars from his former home in Columbia, Md. - Lee, hired that same year at a salary of $170,000, submitted bids from two companies to move her from Port Charlotte to Tampa, one for $3,846 and the other for $8,000. The report says she was reimbursed at the higher amount without justification. Lee, reached at home Thursday, said she believes she received three bids and that the bill was lower. She said Mathews should have asked her about the findings before putting possibly inaccurate information into a public document. - Mark Thornton, the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department director hired in 2005, was paid $9,898 for moving expenses, plus an additional $1,800 for a house-hunting trip that included airfare for a family of four, "luxury car rental" and meal costs. Deputy County Administrator Wally Hill, who had not seen the report, said it will be reviewed to see whether changes are needed. Bill Varian can be reached at 813 226-3387 or varian@sptimes.com.
[Last modified December 29, 2006, 06:21:43]
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