ATLANTA --- A state audit released Monday linked the misuse of state purchasing cards to a lack of oversight in the higher education system, and recommended schools tighten standards and require training courses to prevent further abuse.
The report said a flawed oversight system contributed to 22 cases of possible fraud involving the p-cards, but suggested some of the problems could be from a lack of training by managers and employees.
It comes on the heels of a separate audit of more than 600,000 p-card transactions last year at the state's 35 public colleges and universities that showed the $350 million program was routinely abused.
At least 17 university employees have so far resigned, been fired or retired because of p-card misuse, and disciplinary action in other cases are pending.
Auditors reported that "an overwhelming majority of the transactions we reviewed were legitimate," but listed 22 cases of possible fraud out of the more than 8,400 p-cards issued to university employees.
The report didn't include names, but said a dozen of the cases were found during the review.
Among them is an Armstrong Atlantic State University employee who allegedly racked up $11,472 in charges for items including cell phone bills, two computers, two digital cameras and an Xbox wireless controller. The employee has since retired.
Another involved a Georgia Tech employee who is accused of submitting fraudulent invoices to conceal more than $318,000 worth of personal invoices. The employee has since resigned.
The report recommends for the first time that cardholders and their supervisors take initial and refresher training courses, noting that 15 of the system's 36 institutions do not require them.
It also encourages schools to review who holds the cards to make certain that only "appropriate personnel" are issued the cards.
And it recommends the schools maintain a log of each transaction, as 6 percent of all transactions involving the cards lacked some sort of receipt.
The cases of abuse have prompted lawmakers to push for tightened standards.
The Georgia House voted last month to require supervisors at each state agency and department to review and approve each purchase quarterly.
The proposal, now pending in the Senate, also would require the agencies to maintain a log of receipts and purchases and mandates that the cards' users sign an ethics statement.
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I didn't realize that schools and state agencies would have to offer training courses to employees in not buying stuff for themselves using money that doesn't belong to them. Basically, they have to teach state employees to not steal. How extraordinary. How about this: Basic Computer Skills, 100; Telephone Protocol, 102; Not Stealing On The Job, 101. Signing an ethics statement ought to be really effective too, because you know that once thieves sign a contract they never ever break it.
The "untrained" employee routine is a cover up. The audit is the oversight. The misspending on personal items is stealing. Wouldn't anything over $100 be a felony theft? Were the abusing employees confused? Will the firing, resignation, and retirement end the investigation for the stealing ex-employees? Will the schools and union protect the employees that only stole a few thousand or a few hundred? Will full restitution be demanded?
I had a P-Card for several years when I worked at MCG School of Dentistry. I did not need constant training and neither should these people. You had a policy in place of what you could use the PCard for and what you couldn't. The policy was very, very clear. I was also audited every year that I had the PCard. I cannot understand why each university does not do this as well. These people were just trying to steal, plain and simple. You cannot educate honesty!!!
Champagne, you are right. You cannot teach honesty or character!! These people are simply "educated crooks". If amount justifies they should serve time, or pay restitution and a fine.
Federal credit card purchases MUST be backed up with receipts and is reviewed by the user's supervisor. Disciplinary action, including being fired can be brought against anyone abusing their card. I say that allowing those who abused their cards should not be allowed to retire other than forefeight their retirement pay until the illegal purchases are paid for.
This is not a complicated issue. The person approving payment of the bills verifies that the charges are legitimate. How hard is that? I don't think that even the state is paying unauthorized bills. The bills are being approved by someone.
We need corporal punishment in the workplace so that these naughty people can be properly punished. (Or, at least that's what Augustans would say if children had done this.)
I don't think a spanking will get it Buick. Full restitution, legal action and replacement is called for.