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Feb 08 2012

Audit under way at beleaguered job agency

WFTV 9 Orlando (Florida)

More questions are surfacing about the troubled job agency Workforce Central Florida.

Eyewitness News broke the story Tuesday night that the agency spent more than $1 million on computers that are sitting unused in a storage facility. On Wednesday, WFTV found out the agency’s former board chairman did not even know the computers existed.

Taxpayer Thomas Allen wants to know why 950 computers that Workforce Central Florida paid for with federal tax dollars are sitting inside an Orlando storage facility.

“They should put them to good use. Let the taxpayer money go to good use somewhere,” said Allen.

However, Eyewitness News has learned the people who were in charge of the job agency may not have had any idea of the computers were even purchased in the first place.

Former board chairman Larry Haber told WFTV in an email that he had "no personal knowledge" of the computers in storage. Even though his board was responsible for approving major purchases, his email stated, "this issue was not raised at the board level."

“There are a lot of unanswered question. Obviously, the people who made those decisions are no longer here with the organization,” said Kevin Neal, Workforce Central Florida Interim Director.

Eyewitness News tried to track down the top administrators who were forced to resign, but only one contacted us. Larry Strickler claimed, as vice president of public affairs, his role did not involve finances. He said he had no idea about the computers.

Neal has called in the state's economic inspector general to investigate whether the agency inappropriately spent tax payer dollars.

“To me, it was odd. I just couldn't find a business purpose for why the arrangement was made the way it was,” said Neal.

Now, an independent audit is under way. It could reveal even more surprises.

“Unfortunately, there will be some surprises,” said Neal. “I'm sure that will pop up."

The audit should be done by the end of March.

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