Posted on 06/21/2002 9:39:26 PM PDT by chance33_98
Audit Shows Santa Cruz SPCA Misused Money Auditor Says Practices Were 'Accounting Chaos'
POSTED: 11:50 a.m. PDT June 19, 2002 UPDATED: 11:56 a.m. PDT June 19, 2002
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. -- A Santa Cruz County audit has found that the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals misused $715,000 in taxpayer money.
County Auditor Gary Knutson told the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors that SPCA finance practices were "accounting chaos." He said that the agency bought equipment, hired more staff and paid top administrators more than its three-year contract with the county and cities allowed.
And even though some vacant positions saved the agency $460,000, Knutson said that it didn't give any of that money back to local government.
The auditor said that the SPCA's former husband-and-wife executive team rang up lavish personal expenses on a company credit card.
The SPCA's interim executive director said that the agency used all its public money for public purposes.
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