By Torey Van Oot
tvanoot@sacbee.com
Published: Thursday, Apr. 21, 2011 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
Travel expenses and cash advances for state employees have become the latest targets of Gov. Jerry Brown’s push to save money and crack down on inefficiencies in state government.
The Democratic governor issued an executive order Wednesday directing state agencies and departments to step up their efforts to track down what his office estimates is millions of dollars worth of travel and salary advances that state employees have failed to repay.
“This situation reinforces the worst stereotype of ineffective and inefficient government,” Brown said in a statement.
“I have ordered state agencies to immediately investigate the backlog of uncollected debts and find every penny owed to taxpayers.”
State law allows cash advances to cover anticipated travel and training expenses and added compensation in certain circumstances.
In addition to fixing payroll errors or delays, the agencies can use the so-called “revolving funds” to issue salary advances to “alleviate serious, unforeseeable hardship.”
The money must be repaid or approved by an expense claim within a specified time, but recent audits have found agencies are falling behind in collecting outstanding debts.
One 2009 audit conducted by state Controller John Chiang found that 11 departments had failed to recover or account for more than $13.3 million in advances.
The executive order directs agencies and departments to enforce the existing rules for processing travel expenses and other advance claims within 30 days.
If those steps are not taken, agencies and departments have been told to deduct the money owed from the employee’s next paycheck.
A spokeswoman for one conservative group cautioned that solving the state’s dire fiscal situation will take much larger steps.
“We do need greater transparency and accountability, so anytime that is done, that’s important,” said Americans for Prosperity California spokeswoman Meredith Turney. “But we’ve got to do way more than rearranging chairs on the deck of the Titanic.”
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Here is one more example why politicians need to fix government before they even think of asking the tax payers for a tax increase. I know, Jerry Brown will say well it wasn’t me. Too bad Jerry, your in charge now. Fix it, follow through with the investigation, see that it doesn’t happen again and HOLD THOSE THAT ALLOWED THIS ACCOUNTABLE. Once you really begin showing us that you are actively making substantial change rather than talking about what can be and what should be you may begin to restore the taxpayers confidence. Jerry, do you job and let the chips fall were they may!
And they want us to approve a tax increase to fix the state’s budget woes? Please! I have worked for large companies (50,000 employees) as well as small ones and nothing like this would have ever been tolerated. Not submitting expense reimbursement paperwork timely was never tolerated, even when it was not related to a cash advance. What large organization gives cash advances? Have they not heard of direct bill accounts for hotel, air fares and such? These are not new concepts. Once Jerry is done blaming everyone else, let’s see what action he takes to hold people accountable. Those that allowed this lax behavior should be terminated, period.