State Comptroller DiNapoli released today the following audit of a Bronx special education provider — the NY Institute for Special Education. The audit looked at the State Education Dept.’s oversight of the Institute’s spending and found that:
- Out of $17.5 million in reimbursable costs over the three -year period about $3.25 million did not meet with SED requirements:
- $3.1 million in unsupported compensation. It could not provide time sheets for 41 teacher assistants and said they accidentally shredded them during the audit, though later said they were shredded before the audit started.
- $66k in insufficiently documented audit fees, staff recruitment costs, equipment depreciation costs, and employee reimbursements.
- $31k in unallowed non-program-related costs for EZ pass, computer equipment, etc.
- $22k in executive compensation that exceeded SED median allowable pay limit.
- $5k in ineligible health code violations and tax payments.
The following is a statement from the Comptroller:
“New York spends taxpayer dollars to support vital programs for children with special needs because they are critical for children’s future development,” said State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. “These programs must follow the requirements that come with those public dollars to ensure the money is maximized for the benefit of the children it’s meant to support.”
The audit recommended that SED:
- review the claims that the audit believes should be disallowed and adjust the costs reported by the Institute and its tuition reimbursement rates, as needed;
- remind Institute officials of agency requirements related to the identified costs;
- & that Institute officials ensure the costs they report meet SED requirements.
Featured image credit: DepositPhotos.com
