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    • Chip Flowers will pay some of his Alaska travel expenses to the state
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    Chip Flowers will pay some of his Alaska travel expenses to the state

    Harry Posted on

    Jeff Montgomery
    | News Magazine

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    State Treasurer Chip Flowers, who said he “truly regrets that my political critics falsely accused me,” today released more details about his office’s undocumented travel expenses and said he would refund $1,027.39 to taxpayers and take steps to “restore faith” in his government. Operation.

    In a brief press conference that included an apology for “confusion and distraction resulting from errors made in my office,” Flowers said some of the problems were caused by the administrative failures of a now-retired fiscal officer and denied any allegations of wrongdoing. of funds.

    But he also acknowledged that he owed the state $151.34 for hotel and meal “excesses” after a three-year spending review, and said he would reimburse the state for some of the cost of lodging and meals incurred during a conference in Alaska, as well as lodging, meals and car expenses. Rental payments made by taxpayers for an extra day spent at a conference in Seattle last year.

    Flower said the refunds were intended to “prevent any future confusion” following reports suggesting some taxpayer funds for travel were going to unofficial activities. Copies of supporting documents were to be released Wednesday afternoon.

    Senate Minority Leader Gregory F. Lavelle, R-Sharpley, said it was too early to tell whether Flowers had answered all the questions, adding: “When all else fails, blame politics.”

    “I’m sure he wants to put this behind everyone,” Lavelle said. “But we haven’t seen the documents yet. I want the Accounting Department and the Administration to review them.”

    “I don’t think anyone asked him to do anything other than comply with government policies,” Lavelle said, adding, “he either had a hard time doing it, or had a hard time documenting it, or both.”

    Flowers did not elaborate on the sources of the misperceptions or “misinformation,” but described it as “an unwarranted distraction for Delaware and its treasury.”

    The latest controversy began over collected expenses during a National Association of State Finance Professionals meeting in Alaska attended by Flowers and deputy treasurer Erika Benner, and was compounded by a lack of documentation that could verify that no payments had been made to the taxpayer’s account for special expenses.

    Flowers maintained that taxpayer money was not spent on personal expenses.

    His office and personal actions have been under intense public scrutiny for months, as questions about credit card use by people in his office turned into investigations into an assistant treasurer’s expenses, his own travel and use of public funds, and a recent confession the agency recorded. they are scattered or disappear completely.

    Reports in The News Journal detailing fees charged to government credit cards for Treasury Department activities led to Benner’s forced resignation in August.

    Benner repaid the state $6,051 over a two-year period; This includes more than $1,000 spent on New England Patriots game tickets and associated car service.

    More recently, Flowers’ own expenses were called into question after he failed to provide records requested under the Freedom of Information Act regarding expenses that included travel expenses during a trip to Alaska in 2012 and to Vermont in 2011.

    Flowers defended his expenses for the National Association of Government Treasurers conference in September 2012 and the expenses for the five nights after the meeting; three of these were funded by taxpayers. Late last month, he issued a check for $2,925.27 from the association, which he said proved it covered the group’s travel expenses.

    He said he was working with the Attorney General’s Office to investigate missing records and other issues in which a former employee was charged earlier this month. Although Flowers said a criminal investigation could result, the state Department of Justice has ruled out any administrative or criminal review.

    The Accounting Division launched its own review of the Comptroller’s Office expenses several months ago, but as of earlier this month it reported that it had not yet received a final accounting of the disputed expenses. and misuse of credit cards.

    After Benner repaid the government, Flowers said he would not attempt to document the expenses or prove they involved government-related activities.

    Republicans in the state recently called for an immediate investigation, while the party’s top House and Senate caucus leaders described the Comptroller’s Office as “out of control,” citing “ongoing allegations, confusion, and failure to consistently document taxpayer funds used for travel.” defined.

    Flowers defended his expenses for the National Association of State Treasurers conference in September 2012 and the expenses for the five nights after the meeting; three of these were funded by taxpayers. Late last month, he issued a check for $2,925.27 from the association, which he said proved he had paid for the group’s travel expenses.

    He said he was working with the Attorney General’s Office to investigate missing records and other issues in which a former employee was charged earlier this month. The state Department of Justice has ruled out any administrative or criminal review, although Flowers said a criminal investigation could result.

    The Accounting Division launched its own review of the Comptroller’s Office expenses several months ago, but as of earlier this month it reported that it had not yet received a final accounting of the disputed expenses. and misuse of credit cards.

    After Benner repaid the government, Flowers said he would not attempt to document the expenses or prove they involved government-related activities.

    Republicans in the state recently called for an immediate investigation, while the party’s top House and Senate caucus leaders described the Comptroller’s Office as “out of control,” citing “ongoing allegations, confusion, and failure to consistently document taxpayer funds used for travel.” defined.

    You can read the full story today at delawareonline.com and tomorrow in The News Journal.

    Harry
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