"The mayor will not accept the fact that every year we present a budget. The Common Council and the mayor give us an amount of money and after that it's up to us to decide how to spend it," Raczka said.
In an ongoing battle between the city side of Middletown's municipal government, and the Board of Education, the autonomy to spend that budget has been in contention.
Early Thursday, Giuliano released a press release accusing the Board of Education of discrepancies including mis-use of purchase orders, and purchase order procedures. In addition, the mayor indicated that a criminal investigation is under way because of irregularities in vehicle mileage reports.
"That's ridiculous," Razcka said in response. "If he was right there'd be an FBI agent and an economic affairs investigator at our door right now. And there isn't. Have you noticed? It's always the mayor and his immediate circle. He's never gotten support for his accusations at the state level, or the federal level. It's just the world according to Seb."
As for the criminal charges, Raczka said that the Board votes every year on allowing the mileage payments instead of purchasing Board of Education vehicles (see attached mileage payment reports).
"It's not criminal, and what dismays me the most is his portrayal of people as bad people and criminals," Raczka said.
Raczka admitted to deficiencies in financial reporting as pointed out in the audit.
"That's what the audit is for," he said. "We aren't perfect, and we will improve in those reporting areas, but it's not wrong. It's guidance as to how we can do it better. In the case of the accounts in question, our business manager Nancy Haynes produced bills to match every account expenditure to the penny."
Raczka complained that the management letter was not delivered to the Board of Education.
"He released it to the press, but not to us," Raczka said. "Maybe we'll get it Monday. Is that any way to run a collaborative government?"
7 comments:
Could someone please tell me were I could see line by line were the BOE is spending all there money I went to the BOE website and show the budget but it does not show the budget line by line
this is a samply what I see
Tuition for 2,550,000.00
" For those citizens who love to defend the BOE, here's a list...ready? I hope so!
1. Middletown High alledged rape in the hallways. Handled poorly by administrators.
2. Middletown High bullying, again ignored by administration.
3. High school student attacks police officer, tased. I'm sensing a pattern here. Administration chastises cops.
4. Two football coaches accused of running students in high heat. EMS personnel and PD attacked for doing their jobs. Again BOE denies any culpability.
5. Gas leaks at two schools go unreported to the fire department. Principals leak out the BOE forces them to call central office first. BOE claims they know nothing.
6. BOE announces a contractor hired to clear snow off school roofs. 1 month later, no snow cleared and another gas leak at a school. BOE claims not their responsibility.
7. Two fires at Woodrow Wilson Middle School. Schools claim Fire department has no right to send kids home. FD disputes their authority...BOE claims it was a misunderstanding.
8. BOE announces a 1.5 million dollar leftover from the 2009/2010 school year. Within a day the money disappears. BOE claims it was only 50,000. BOE blames City Mayor for "head hunting".
9. The Mayor and Superintendant locked in a major battle over hiring of staff. BOE oversteps their bounds, Mayor fires cafeteria workers. Local 466 contract violated many times by the BOE. BOE claims "sovereign nation" status under state laws governing funding. Are we running a casino?
10. BOE second in charge assaults a school district employee who is a whistle blower. Physically bullies the employee. She still is working, even though ZERO TOLERANCE is a City wide policy.
11. Negotiated deal between the city and its largest Union is in the hands of a judge because the BOE "claims" no one involved them in discussions. A democratic Judge is deciding a case of a democratic board of education over a sitting republican mayor...I smell something.
12. The BOE budget comes in a ridiculous size, Mayor questions funding with them announcing a huge amount leftover last year. Cuts them to current level plus extra. BOE claims layoffs will be needed, scares all parents into outrage, even though they can move money at will within their budget without any oversight.
13. The McClain case just keeps raging on with no answers from the BOE.
Folks, wake up! This is just the tip of an out of control freight train! Middlestown citizens should see straight thru the BOE smoke games. We dont live in a country that has no freedom! Question EVERYTHING they do!
The letter has deficiencies on the City too - is Seb doing a criminal investigation into his departments?
Chair, as an attorney do you submit your bills line by line, or do you just group your billings under 99999 also...I'm sure your clients would like to know, seeing that you don't seem to have an issue with this.
Read JAM's earlier post and it will give you insight into the Mayor's tactics today ....the BoE discussed the audit Tuesday night and have posted it on its website. But read on - apparently the City is overcharging the BoE and the BoE caught on to them.
Unfortunately an email stating who rec'd what for mileage is just that. What we would like to see are the minutes from the BOE board meeting stating that they approved these before hand...not just what they received.
Collaborative government? Razska never cooperates with anyone, he just keeps saying "it's our money and we can do ANYTHING WE WANT WITH IT."
Mr. Chairman, can you tell me why a superintenent who lives in Middletown and works in Middletown needs EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS in mileage payments?
Don't we pay him enough to drive his own car the two miles he has to go to work?
In fiscal year 2009-10 you had an extra half million dollars laying around, so you pre-payed $468,000 for fuel oil expenses in FY 2010-11. Then you asked for ANOTHER $468,000 in FY 2010-11 for the fuel that was already paid for. WHERE DID THAT MONEY GO?
All of your lying and cheating is going to come to an end, and not soon enough.
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