Check the receipts! Some show tax, some show exempt.
By: Diane Benjamin
Read the original post here: http://blnnews.com/2014/12/19/make-sure-you-are-calm-before-reading/
I had some help from an outraged reader, Kevin Gerrard, on a Freedom of Information Act request. All the meals came from PCard charges, similar to a debit card but the City just gets a statement at the end of the month.
Kevin wanted to see receipts for the meals eaten at your expense. The City asked that his first request be cut down, so he picked out some charges of interest. Would you be surprised if the City couldn’t find all the receipts?
Way too many City employees have PCards. The City receives a huge statement listing all the charges, itemized by employee. As a CPA, I would require City staff to match all the charges with receipts. If a receipts is not submitted, the employee loses their PCard.
Since they couldn’t find receipts for both Renner and Hales, I seriously doubt they are checking charges made for all employees. This FOIA should have been easy – pull out the statement with receipts attached, copy the ones requested and return it to storage. Another failure by government to watch your money, not to mention feasting at your expense. Since the City is automatically charged, employees don’t have to turn in receipts to get reimbursed. Sweet deal for them – possible fraud and abuse for you.
Here is a list of what they couldn’t find itemized receipts for, just a charge slip:
To: Kevin Gerrard
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2015 1:44 PM
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information Act Request
Support Staff IV
City Clerk’s Office
Here is a list of what the City either couldn’t find ANYTHING for, or just ignored the request:
Renner Meals:
MEDICI $ 156.80 Meeting (with who?)
Biaggi’s $ 44.64 Business meal for Tari Renner and S. Black- 11/13/14
Update: Receipts for these are included below – they were found!
Biaggi’s S $ 53.63 Business meal for Tari Renner and J. Centero- 11/25/14
Puran India Restaurant $ 47.93 Business Meal – Tari Renner, Carlo Robustelli – 10/4/14
Destihl $ 49.65 Business Meal for T.Renner, C.Robustilli, and S. Black- 11/2/14
DESTIHL $ 50.10 Business meal ‐ Tari Renner, Carlo Robustelli ‐ 9/18/14
DESTIHL $ 49.40 Business meeting – Tari Renner, Carlo Robustelli – 8/22/14
DESTIHL $ 36.25 Business meal – Tari Renner, Carlo Robustelli – Destihl, 7/13/14
MEDICI $ 31.25 Business meal – Tari Renner, Mboka Mwilambwe
ROSIE’S PUB $ 37.50 Business meal-T.Renner, B. Verricelli Jr, B. Verricelli Sr.- 7/8/14
Hales meals:
Monicals Pizza $ 25.00 Working Lunch – David Hales, Rob Fazzini – 10/7/14
JIMMY JOHN’S # 1408 $ 14.10 Business meal ‐ David Hales, Dave Sage ‐ 9/5/14
JIMMY JOHN’S # 1408 $ 7.50 Business meal – David Sage – meeting with David Hales, 7/8/14
Jimmy John’s # 1408 $ 15.00 Business Meal – David Hales, Dave Sage – 10/14/14
Here are receipts Kevin did receive:
Notice even the tip is paid by Bloomington taxpayers.
Notice no meals are shown for Kevin Lower or Judy Stearns. Getting fed at your expense is where “potted plants” are cultivated!
I wonder how many of those meals with no receipts had alcohol? Since it’s against City policy to pay for it . . . .
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David Hales is a lousy tipper!
What is Renner’s fascination with Robustelli?
Fellow liberal. Why the taxpayers have to pay for their food is beyond me.
The fountain, flamingos and countless other wasteful projects anger me, but spending taxpayer money on lunches really pisses me off!
What are you going to do about it?
About the only thing I can, vote. My alderwoman, Karen Schmidt is coming up for reelection. She doesn’t seem to have a problem with wasteful spending so out she goes.
I hope you will either help her opponent or donate to netpac.me see we can help.