According to an independent ethics investigator hired by the Port of Seattle, all five elected port commissioners improperly charged personal expenses to a Port issued credit card. Eventually, they each paid the Port back, although some of their payments were delayed by months.
Apparently, the commissioners were not clear about whether their charges were reimbursable as part of the commission duties. Most of the items charged were for food, drink, and travel they thought were related to Port business but that were deemed improper.
More Information: Click here to read a November 1, 2011 Seattle Times article on the subject. Also note the citizen comments on the article.
Lessons Learned:
- Clear Policies: Have clear policies related to what are reimbursable expenses for elected officials and public employees, and what may be charged to government issued credit cards.
- Ask Questions: If you have been issued a government credit card and are unclear about what it may be used for, ask for clarification.
- Monitor Credit Cards: If you have agency credit cards, make sure that someone is monitoring their use to ensure that all charges are appropriate and for official business.
- Training: All public agencies, including elected officials and employees, should attend required ethics training on an annual basis. It is critical that public agencies be made aware of and be sensitized to a variety of ethical issues related to their work. The state of North Carolina requires this type of training.
Mike Purdy's Public Contracting Blog© 2011 by Michael E. Purdy Associates, LLChttp://PublicContracting.blogspot.com
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