With Long Island having among the highest tax rates in the nation, the question remains, “do you know where your tax dollars are going”? Well, apparently they are going toward a “good” cause, helping ensure the to help “support” a local fire district.
In fact, the Selden Fire District has been under investigation for several months now with regard to the allocation of funds by five elected commissioners. Allegedly hundreds of thousands were reported used for dozens of conferences in Vegas and other cities during the last decade.
And, authorities admit it. In fact, commissioners reveal frequently handwriting expense receipts on business cards and allocating portions of their food allowance on drinks, which is a non-reimbursable (travel) expense in the state of New York.
And, while Selden fire officials are prepared to cooperate with the investigation, Suffolk District Attorney Thomas Spota’s office refused to comment. But, they maintain they have nothing to hide, adding that there is nothing criminal or illegal that has taken place.
The president of the New York State Association of Fire Districts however notes that standard protocol for the 30 upstate districts he represents requires cash register receipts since the law mandates travel expenses be “necessary and actual”.
It has been reported that during three out-of-state conferences during a 19 period back in 2005, the Selden fire commissioner showed expensed of $1,045 for “miscellaneous” and “sundry” items which had to receipts. The paper trail also suggests that the same commissioner, Mr. Santora, spent over $4,000 on conference meals and “non-essentials” last year, exceeding the daily federal per diem allowance by more than four times the amount allowed by the state comptoller’s office for traveling fire officials.
According to several Selden officials, each commissioner generally receives $1,700 up front for food and incidentals alone, with hotel, airfare, and conference fees paid for in advance by the department.
The Selden fire commissioner “did” manage to account for many of his $100 dinners, $45 lunches and $20 breakfasts via handwritten documentation with supporting dates and dollar amounts on the back of business cards and a matchbook. And, he claimed that the $1,045 “miscellaneous” were a result of tipping. However, Federal guidelines for daily incidentals would have amounted to $57 in total.
But, the commissioner claims that many of his meal expenses also included alcoholic beverages, which would explain the higher costs.
Yet, since 1983 the state comptroller has banned reimbursements for alcohol as part of the allocated traveling expenses. And, in 1998, an audit by the state comptoller’s office reprimanded Selden for excessive conference spending and a failure to adequately show proof of expenses as well as long delays in submitting receipts and proper paperwork.
Commissioner Spatofora, a 30-year department veteran says he is among those calling for the audit noting that Selden prides itself on careful monitoring and scrutiny of travel spending making it mandatory that expense reporting takes place within 30 to 45 days. And, he added that spending on alcohol is not permissible and that other commissioner hand-record expenses properly and honestly. He even lauds the individuals that are taking the allowances and attending conferences as honorable and trustworthy.
Selden happens to be one of long Island’s larger districts in regards to population served and overall spending and allows $200,00 of its nearly $4 million budget for travel and training.
While outside financial surveillance of fire districts is assigned to state comptroller audits, recent state legislation requires increased accountability from districts, laws that will, for the most part, take effect next year.
According to District Treasurer Jeff Bailes, handwritten receipts have been customary in Selden for decades and generally speaking while commissioners “do” get $1700 for spending most usually return $400 to $500 unspent.
And, he adds, that as far as he knows, spending being rejected due to lack of proof, is something that he’s never before heard of.
The Selden Fire District, is responsible for parts of Centereach, Coram and Farmingville, and is in the top 10 percent of Long Island fire districts in terms of population served and budget.
Size of force: 149 volunteers, 28 paid staff members
Size of area served: 7.6 square miles
Population served: 33,877
2005 budget: $3,986,000
Average yearly fire tax: $371 per household (about average for Long Island)
