Audit Finds Dead People on Camden Schools Payroll

CAMDEN, N.J. - January 31, 2007 (WPVI) -- Even though the Camden School District has been plagued by scandal and mismanagement for a number of years, the results of a new audit are prompting quite a reaction.

"It's just totally unbelievable and absolutely incredible that we can have such a dysfunctional system in place," said school board president Philip Freeman.

An independent audit of Camden schools found widespread fiscal mismanagement and lax controls in areas like payroll, purchasing and accounts payable.

For instance, auditors found a number of employees remained on the district payroll after they died. One man was allegedly paid $130,000 even though he has been dead since 1974.

The audit found vendors have been overpaid more than $17 million. In one case the district forked over almost a million dollars -- $953,000 to be exact -- for some copying equipment even though the purchase order was for just $55,000.

Residents are angered by the fiscal mismanagement.

"When you do a purchase order you put down a set of numbers. Is someone coming behind and adding on to it? Who's checking it?" wondered Vicki McRae.

Another resident, Ada Perez, said, "It's terrible because that's money they could use for the kids instead of throwing it away."

The scandal-plagued district has been under some form of state oversight since 1999 and the subject of numerous audits and action plans. So how can the fiscal mismanagement found in the audit go on?

"I think this is pretty clear evidence that we've got to be more aggressive with our following and ensuring changes actually do take place," said New Jersey Education Commissioner Lucille Davy.

Camden officials have 45 days to put a corrective action into place. Davy also told Action News that she is hiring a retired state police investigator to keep a closer watch on the finances.

Get more News »

• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•