Special Education Contractors Misusing Taxpayer Dollars
July 5, 2012
Around Town by Neal Tepel
Three private contractors hired to provide special education services for pre-K children used public money for inappropriate and unallowable expenses, according to audits released by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Some contractors billed for no-show jobs, improper staff bonuses, landscaping services and flooring for a vacation home, and much more.
DiNapoli called the schemes to defraud the state “unconscionable.” In some instances, contractors attempted to hide the fraud, while in others the fraud was barely concealed. DiNapoli’s office began a widespread probe into the operations of special education contractors after irregularities arose in financial disclosure reports.
This probe so far has led to felony arrests of four contractors and restitution of $610,000.
