ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — 9 Investigates has learned the Orange County comptroller will perform an audit of the Orange County property appraiser’s office. The news comes after Channel 9 has spent weeks looking into questions surrounding County Appraiser Rick Singh’s office spending.
Investigative reporter Daralene Jones has been digging through nearly 2,000 documents from Singh’s office, records that outline how – and how much – taxpayer dollars have been spent by the office.
A high level of interest from public officials and the media added weight to the decision to audit Singh’s office, Jones learned today.
Orange County Comptroller Martha Haynie’s office will conduct the audit. Her auditors will focus on procurement card purchases. The so-called “P-card” is like a county credit card. And constitutional officers can, for the most part, use those cards how they please with little oversight.
PDF: Letter to Rick Singh on audit
Last week Haynie sent a short email to Singh, notifying him of the audit.
“We expect the (audit’s) scope to include the purchases made with procurement cards,” Haynie wrote in the email. “The purpose of the audit is to review the procedures and controls as well as compliance with policies and state rules and law.”
Jones learned today that this will be the first such review of the office in six years.
"How unusual is it that the comptroller is now going to audit the property appraiser?" Jones asked WFTV political analyst Rick Foglesong.
“The comptroller only investigates when she thinks that tax money is at risk,” Foglesong responded.
On Feb., 9 Investigates first requested invoices and receipts for expenses within the property appraiser’s office. And two weeks ago we received a stack of nearly 2,000 documents, which we are still reviewing.
So far, 9 Investigates uncovered purchases for fans with the office logo and Singh's name on them. The fans cost taxpayers $4,000, according to invoices.
We also found breath mints --- in wrappers emblazoned with Singh’s name and logo -- promotional videos totaling thousands and even door hangers featuring Singh's picture, name and department logo.
All of these were paid for with taxpayer money.
And although they may not have been purchased with that P-card, the comptroller's auditors will be focused on items like these, which have raised questions about the office's spending.
9 Investigates additionally obtained a list of items that may have been purchased with that card, including meals, hotel stays, grocery items, gas and convenience stores.
“In fairness we don't know whether something illegal or criminal has occurred,” Foglesong told Jones. “It may only be a question of whether appropriate accounting procedures have been followed. We don't know.”
Last month, 9 Investigates reported on a fleet of new vehicles purchased by Singh’s office. Singh held a news conference and released a YouTube video promoting the 30 hybrid vehicles.
Singh told us the office is leasing the vehicles at a rate of $255 per car, per month.
Some have questioned whether the vehicles are rolling billboards for Singh’s re-election campaign. Singh’s name appeared in eight different locations on the vehicle, covering the doors, and at one point, even the front and back windshields.
Shortly after the cars were revealed, Singh’s office learned it’s against state law to cover the front windshield, so the writing has since been removed from the front windshield.
At the time, Singh told us the vehicles would save taxpayers at least $780,000, over 10 years. And Singh defended placing the agency's logo and his e-mail on the vehicle, saying, "My name is on the vehicle eight times for the safety of our employees, for the safety of the public. And of course, to save money."
Shortly after 9-Investigates initial report, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs raised questions about spending within the property appraiser's office. She told 9-Investigates Daralene Jones that she believed it was time to get a closer look at the department's expenses.
“The comptroller says she has audit authority. I think the office should be audited. I understand there are some public records requests made that haven't been honored. So, it's certainly starting to raise some significant questions,” Jacobs said.
Singh’s budget each year goes through the State Department of Revenue.
Challenges from the county have to go through the state. Outside of that, Singh is typically free to spend your tax money, with little oversight from the state agency. Orange County would have to file an appeal with the state if it wanted to contest his budget approved by the state each year.
WFTV
