TONAWANDA, N.Y. — The Brighton Fire District in the Town of Tonawanda is being called out by the state Comptroller's Office, for improper use of taxpayer money. A new audit says money was wrongly used on trips for members of the fire company and spouses.
The Brighton Fire District protects roughly 7 square miles within the Town of Tonawanda and charges a fire tax on residents who live within the district.
A state audit reveals between 2011 and 2016 members of the fire department used a district credit card to take themselves and spouses on trips to conferences, with taxpayers picking up the tab.
So how much money are we talking here?
The Comptroller's Office looked at credit card and travel expenses totaling $274,000 and that they found $30,000 in questionable spending for the secretary and treasurer. They discovered that the secretary used the district credit card to send himself and his spouse — who is not a district official — to attend two conferences, one in Dallas in 2014 and another in Tampa the following year.
More than $700 was spent on the secretary spouse's travel costs.
Plus, a board member and the former treasurer used the district's credit card to fly themselves and their spouses to Denver and Orlando. These fees were later reimbursed.
However, that same treasurer charged flights and other travel-related costs for his spouse in 2012, 2013, and 2015 and did not reimburse the district. That is, according to the audit, until after the state's review was done — the board contacted the former treasurer and he reimbursed the department for the majority of these costs.
In 2016, the audit says the treasurer resigned at the Comptroller's Office request.
All this raises questions about what kind of oversight is being done here.
2 On Your Side called Brighton Fire District to see if anyone in administration would speak to us about the audit findings. But, we didn't get a call back.
According to a letter the district provided the state, the district says it will revise policies.
2 On Your Side contacted Supervisor Joe Emminger, to see if he has any concerns about what's going on at the fire district, he says he does, but would not do an on-camera interview.
Brighton needs to provide to the state a corrective action plan in December.
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