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December 26th, 2009

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Kentucky Audit Blasts spending to County Insurance Provider

The association manages and sells that insurance programs for Kentuckyâ € ™ s 120 counties uses a â € œself serving cultureâ €, which has resulted in millions of dollars in questionable spending in the past three years according to a report critical of the state auditor.

State Auditor Crit luall today published a special study of the Kentucky Association of Counties (KACO), which means that KACO found, how sales increased 75 percent from 2003 to 2008 to more than $ 5,700,000, the amount of discretionary spending by the Organization increased dramatically – at parties, erotic, expensive meals sporting events, some pension funds, and condominium rentals for executives.

KACO, a public, non-profit organization primarily funded by public dollars and and county officials, provides advocacy and financing services and insurance sold to member counties to pay the insurance premiums and membership fees.

Most â € " more than 90 percent – of the KACoâ € ™ s revenue from fees paid by the insurance and financial programs administered by KACO staff. Insurance Part of the organization is regulated and examined by the Kentucky Department of Insurance. County membership dues are not a major source of income for KACO, with an average of only about $ 130,000 per year since 2003.

The state auditorâ € ™ s report says that a culture of board members, officers and employees Expenditure flourished spent funds on lavish dinners, alcohol, sports and entertainment tickets, staff birthday meals, eroticism, pleasure, and Christmas parties. The test was nearly $ 2,000,000 to credit agency for a period of three years calculated, with $ 1.4 million to insufficient or no evidence, a vague, business Purposes or in nature was exaggerated.

The lack of board oversight, including weak internal controls, minimal conflicts of interest and ethics policy and no policy of Whistleblower, the report says.

The audit reviews KACoâ € ™ s finances from 1 July 2006 through June 30, 2009 and Makes 40 findings to improve and more than 150 recommendations on board oversight and management.

â € œOur study provides the leadership of KACO the right tools to even to continue to strengthen accountability and to fulfill their responsibilities to the counties and the taxpayers, â € said luall. â € OEI believe that The public expects no less. In this current economic downturn, when our struggling counties, our citizens have no patience for waste and excess of those people to keep their trust and treat their tax dollars.â €

Luallenâ € ™ s office announced his plans, both KACO and audit Kentucky League of Cities (KLC) in July after media reports raised questions about the expenditures of the two organizations. Luall said the KLC would test be published in the coming weeks.

Luall said KACO should ways to increase revenue for his return as a member counties lower Membership fees and insurance premiums or have found as additional training programs rather than on wasteful spending.

She said the board has taken steps KACO made to begin modified as a result of public scrutiny and media coverage to reach more accountability. hit She also said that some board members and employees of KACO, resisted the excesses detected in the test and worked effectively, despite the developed culture.

Luall KACO said the board has indicated it would move forward with reforms in response to their degree.

The audit uncovered $ 1,400,000 in questionable credit card charges that adequate documentation their business purpose was lacking, including:

* KACO paid $ 219,144 for 77 restaurant fees, which cost any more than $ 1,000. Examples are: a $ 8,857 meal Dikta Mike's Restaurant in Chicago, a $ 8,161 meal ZA € ™ s Oyster Bar and Steak House in Louisville, a $ 7,237 dinner at Sala € ™ s Italian Chophouse in Lexington, and a $ 7,082 meal Starkerâ € ™ s Restaurant in Kansas City.

* In 2007 and 2008, spent the Organization $ 48,426 for two Christmas parties for board management, staff and board members. After a short board meetings that were held during the day, such persons together with their guests, were Spindletop Hall in Lexington drove a tour bus to attend the Christmas party each year.

* KACO spent $ 43,000 on alcohol, although auditors believe the amount is significantly higher based on information provided by staff interviews.

* The organization also spent $ 28,700 in the entertainment ticket purchasing, including university football and basketball game tickets, tickets and Kentucky Derby, along with other entertainment venues.

* Auditors found a $ 1,814 credit card for 13 tickets for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in 2008. The tickets were for the entertainment for five Board members along with spouses and companions, while a bond closing in New York City.

* The organization spent $ 11,593 on staff Birthday lunch, $ 7,262 on Christmas gifts employees, $ 3,053 on other board and staff gifts, $ 8,119 for air travel insurance, $ 2,385 conference meals and $ 890 to adult entertainment.

* Adult Entertainment Escort Service charges on two occasions and four loads at two different strip clubs. This Credit cards were charged to KACO the former director and former board president.

In addition to the 1.4 million U.S. dollars in undocumented credit card expenses, auditors also found other cases of questionable spending by KACO.

After the test, offers two KACO pensions for its employees: one in the County Employee Retirement System (CERS) and a 6-percent game in the Kentucky Public Employees Deferred Compensation Authority. Over a period of three years KACO paid $ 622,355 for the employee 6-percent retirement match.

In addition, auditors found that KACO spent $ 334,300 to board members for meetings, $ 278,154 for the legal Defence pay for convicted officials, $ 247,944 for a sports advertising contract, $ 83,000 for donations and sponsorship, and $ 12,600 for the use of two flats.

Auditors found KACO rented two flats: one used the organizationâ € ™ s Product Development Manager in Frankfurt at a price of $ 11,000 over a 10-month period and another condo Frankfurt for its former executive director for $ 1,600 for a period of two months.

The list of issues can be viewed www.auditor.ky.gov.

KACO was founded in 1974 as a 501 (c) (3) non-profitability Corporation by a group of County officials. It owns all 120 county governments Kentucky. It was initially formed to offer educational programs, cooperative undertakings and advocacy problem but has been extended over the years was to give to various products and services including insurance. The KACO insurance units are:

* Commonwealth Insurance Company, Inc. (CIC), a non-profit society, the embezzlement embezzlement coverage, business income coverage and offers additional cost reporting exclusively to members Thea Kalf.

* KACO Insurance Agency, Inc. (KIA), a wholly owned subsidiary ofa KACO and a for-profit corporation. KIA originally was made to the Group Health Plan KACO market, but Hasa in recent years also expanded market official public bonds, excess Seismic coverage and spectatorsâ € ™  liability insurance.

* KACO Workerâ € ™ s Compensation Fund (WC KACO), not a legal association KACO of that county and other public institutions to pool resources and allows creating a self-created health insurance for the Providing workerâ € ™ s compensation coverage. KACO is Moreover, the WC Fund also provides Risk Management and Loss Control Training of counties and agencies, members of the Fund.

* KACO All Lines Fund (KALF), a group self-insurance pool providing to insurance products, including products such as auto liability, general liability, property, law enforcement liability, public officials liability, employment practices and intentional criminal charges defense. KALF also offers risk management and loss control training.

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