The N.C. Agriculture Department allowed a deputy director to use a state vehicle to commute to Raleigh from Reidsville, without reimbursement, for three years, according to the State Auditor's Office.
A management letter from auditor Beth Wood, a Democrat, found that Patrick Jones, a deputy director of the Pesticide Section was driving his state car to Raleigh four days a week, a financial benefit of $36,546. Wood's office was tipped about the car though the office's anonymous hotline.
State workers are allowed commuting privileges if the employee works from home. For that designation, and its exemption from having to pay back the state to apply, the employee cannot drive to Raleigh more than twice a week.
Wood's letter recommended that Jones be required to repay the state.
In a response, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, a Republican, downplayed the case, saying that Jones and his supervisor intended for Jones to rarely drive to Raleigh. But the department's involvement in the Ag-Mart pesticide case required him to be in Raleigh more often.
More after the jump.
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"His duties did not evolve as he and his supervisor had planned," Troxler wrote. "He was needed at the Division offices in Raleigh on many occasions.
"We do not believe Mr. Jones engaged in any intentional misconduct and therefore we do not intend to take any disciplinary action against him. Pat Jones is an outstanding employee. He is honest, hard-working, and because of his knowledge and experience, is one of our most valued employees."
Troxler also wrote that Jones was not trying to hide the use of his vehicle. In fact, the meticulous records Jones kept about his mileage and trips enabled the auditor's office to do its investigation in the first place.
Troxler said the car has been taken from Jones and the department intends to conduct an annual review of duty stations, vehicle assignments and mileage logs.
Document(s):
audit letter.pdf
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