Latest news with #Comptroller'sOffice
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mount Vernon names new schools superintendent; last one accused of misconduct, forced out
Mount Vernon's school board unanimously appointed a new superintendent, Demario A. Strickland, at a May 14 special meeting. Strickland, who is currently interim superintendent of the Rochester City School District, is expected to start in the district July 1. Strickland, 40, joins the district as challenges loom. Mount Vernon has seen declining enrollment over the last decade. The district is expected to see a scant 2% increase in state Foundation Aid despite serving a high-needs population. Mount Vernon on May 20 proposed a $272.2 million budget that would increase the tax levy by 3.3%. In his first communication with district residents, Strickland said, 'As the new superintendent, I would like to encourage everyone to come out to vote.' Amid financial strains, district officials in April revealed that 84 teachers, teaching assistants and administrators would be laid off this summer, along with 40 civil-service employees. Mount Vernon in 2024 was labeled a district in "significant financial stress" by the state Comptroller's Office. About 73% of students were considered economically disadvantaged and 12% were homeless in 2023-24, according to state Education Department data. About 93% of the district's approximately 6,500 students are Black or Latino. Meanwhile, Mount Vernon's last permanent superintendent, Waveline Bennett-Conroy, had been formally suspended in 2024 by the district amid accusations of misconduct. But the district still ended up forking out tens of thousands of dollars in pay to her. Bennett-Conroy's contract expires June 30. Mount Vernon announced this year that three K-8 campuses would be closed over the summer because of declining enrollment and financial difficulties. In Rochester, Strickland oversaw a school reconfiguration plan that had been laid out by the previous superintendent. Mount Vernon Board of Education President Adriane Saunders said in a May 14 statement that Strickland was "uniquely qualified" because of his experience in urban-based schools and "his ability to create positive outcomes for students." K. Veronica Smith, named Mount Vernon acting superintendent in February 2023, said she was looking forward to collaborating with Strickland. 'He has the experience and accomplishments to continue doing great work in Mount Vernon.' Strickland has a doctorate in educational leadership and master's degrees in administration & supervision; curriculum and teaching; and school district leadership. He was named acting superintendent for the Rochester city schools in 2024 and had been deputy superintendent. He had also been an administrator in the Buffalo Public Schools, a dean of students in New York City and a teacher in New York City. 'I'm very much about student outcomes," Strickland said in a district-issued statement. "Are students safe? Are they feeling seen, affirmed and valued when they come into our schools? Are teachers equipped with a guaranteed and viable curriculum that will help them be able to plan and educate our students to the greatest ability they can? I want to make sure that ZIP code doesn't define what our students are capable of.' This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Mount Vernon names new schools superintendent from Rochester, New York
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
MTSU professor faces multiple charges, including theft and forgery, following state investigation
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) — Following a joint investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the state Comptroller's Office, a professor at Middle Tennessee State University has been indicted on several charges — including theft and forgery. According to the Tennessee Comptroller's Office, the investigation started after an internal university audit reported 'questionable transactions' to the state office. The investigation focused on the role of Don Hong in the university's Actuarial Science Program and investigated transactions between January 2020 and February 2025. Read the full investigative report here The investigation reportedly found that Hong misappropriated at least $8,225.48 in donations intended for MTSU. Hong allegedly encouraged students to donate in support of the Actuarial Science Program, but the donations were transferred to Hong's personal bank account rather than being transferred into a university-managed fund. He did remit some donations to MTSU, but the Tennessee Comptroller's Office said that he failed to turn over at least $8,225.48. However, after investigators started reviewing Hong's transactions, he submitted an additional $11,700 to MTSU. Additionally, the investigation found that Hong received cash from students for airport transportation, which he allegedly claimed as a reimbursable expense from the university. The state Comptroller's Office also reported that Hong accepted 'other questionable payments' from students and used student labor for personal benefit without proper authorization. Hong allegedly used a false identity and a fake business name to lease his personally-owned rental properties to international students recruited through his university-funded role. The investigation found that Hong 'appeared to retaliate' against a student who reported his misconduct by submitting an anonymous allegation of academic misconduct using a false identity associated with his personal information. The investigation also found that Hong did not report a student's allegation of violence after it was reported to him. According to the investigative report, when the student approached Hong, he advised her not to contact police 'saying it would being shame because they are Chinese.' On Monday, a Rutherford County grand jury indicted 65-year-old Hong on two counts of theft, one count of forgery, one count of criminal simulation, one count of official misconduct, one count of official oppression and one count of retaliation. Hong was booked into the Rutherford County jail on a $500,000 bond Wednesday. News 2 received the following statement from MTSU: 'MTSU's Office of Audit and Consulting Services first brought these concerns to the attention of the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury and the University cooperated extensively with the Comptroller's office in its investigation. The allegations brought forth are serious and, if proven true, we will act quickly and appropriately in the best interest of the University and its students.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NY taxpayers on the hook for $450K as Cuomo sexual harassment accuser settles with the state — just months ahead of mayoral primary
A former state employee who accused Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment clinched a $450,000 settlement — with taxpayers set to foot the massive bill as the former governor makes a comeback bid for New York City mayor. Charlotte Bennett, who served as an assistant to Cuomo when he was governor, officially ended a long-running lawsuit Friday against the Empire State. She is slated to receive $100,000 personally with another $350,000 earmarked for her lawyers and legal costs — all of which will be shelled out by the state. The settlement caps a bruising battle with Cuomo, including a separate federal lawsuit that Bennett later dropped in which her lawyer contended the ex-gov's attorneys had aggressively sought her gynecological records. 'Ms. Bennett is looking forward to moving on with her life,' Bennett's attorney Debra Katz said in a statement Friday about the settlement. The scandal-plagued Cuomo's various bids to clear his name have been costly for New Yorkers. As of March, taxpayers had shelled out nearly $60 million in legal costs to defend against various scandals that embroiled the Cuomo administration, according to a report by the state Comptroller's Office. The tab to defend Cuomo and the state each against Bennett's claims ran upward of $9 million – and a total of $14.3 million was approved had she not settled, according to public records. Bennett, now 29, was the second woman after former gubenatorial aide Lindsey Boylan, to publicly accuse the thrice-elected Democrat of sexual harassment in 2021. She filed suit against the state in March 2023, alleging it failed to act to address her complaint that Cuomo subjected her to degrading sexual harassment on the job and accused her of lying when she came forward with the accusations. As part of the settlement, Bennett — who worked as a top assistant and health policy adviser to Cuomo between May 2019 and June 2020 — agreed not to seek further employment in the state Executive Chamber. The settlement gives Bennett lump sum payouts of $40,000 for post traumatic stress disorder and narcolepsy and $35,000 for emotional distress. The state did not own up to any wrongdoing, or liability, in the agreement, according to a copy of the settlement obtained by The Post. 'This settlement was mutually agreed upon by the parties and allows the State to minimize further cost to the taxpayers,' Avi Small, a spokesman for Gov. Kathy Hochul, said in a statement. Katz maintained her client's allegations were supported by findings from New York Attorney General Letitia James' Office and from the US Department of Justice. But Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi touted the settlement as vindicating the former governor. 'If anyone ever questioned whether this situation was political from the start, today's taxpayer funded nuisance settlement is proof positive,' he claimed. Cuomo in December filed a notice that he would sue Bennett for defamation. That case is still pending but a civil complaint detailing his allegations has yet to be filed. Bennett initially filed her federal lawsuit in September 2022 against Cuomo, his top lieutenant Melissa DeRosa and two other aides — but dropped that case in December just days before she was set to give a sworn deposition about her claims. Bennett said at the time that Cuomo, 67, used the 'unlimited' taxpayer funds at his disposal for his legal defense to attack her, causing her to feel she would be 'better off dead than endure more of this litigation abuse.' Cuomo's legal team made evidence requests for Bennett's medical records, including gynecologists, optometrists and from when she was a minor, Katz asserted at the time. The former governor's attorneys contended that Bennett withdrew the lawsuit to avoid having to admit under oath that her accusations were false. Erica Vladimer, co-founder of the Sexual Harassment Working Group established by former legislative staffers, slammed Cuomo's successor Hochul for how she handled the case. 'Hochul spent $2.5 million dragging Charlotte Bennett through court proceedings,' Vladimer said, referring to the law firm's original contract. 'Is this any different the way Cuomo would have handled it? 'No amount of money may ever make up for the trauma Charlotte endured, and this unnecessary prolonging of legal proceedings could have easily been avoided.' Bennett's accusations against Cuomo remained the same in both the case against the state and her federal suit naming him. She alleged that Cuomo made inappropriate comments to her and that DeRosa and other staffers tried to sweep the accusations under the rug by transferring her to a lower position. During one June 5, 2020, meeting in the governor's office Cuomo allegedly made fun of her wearing a mask during COVID-19, saying that when she breathed it reminded him of the monsters in the movie 'Predator,' her suit claimed She 'laughed uncomfortably' — before he prophetically responded: 'If I were investigated for sexual harassment, I would have to say I told her she looked like a monster,' the suit alleged. Bennett also claimed Cuomo asked her invasive questions about her sex life and told her he was 'lonely' and willing to date someone over 21, the suit alleged. She was 25 at the time. Cuomo stepped down in August 2021 amid the sexual harassment scandal and claims that his office hid the true number of nursing home deaths from COVID during the pandemic. His resignation came two weeks after a report by the attorney general's office found he had sexually harassed 11 women and created a hostile work environment in his office — a finding which was later backed by the federal prosecutors. Cuomo has vehemently maintained his innocence and has attempted to return to power with a run for New York City's mayor. He's currently the frontrunner in the crowded June 24 Democratic primary. Other suits filed over the sexual harassment claims include one from a state trooper who accused Cuomo of touching her inappropriately. That legal battle has cost the state $8.6 million so far, according to Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's office. Another $11.7 million has been spent on state investigations, including into Cuomo's handling of the COVID pandemic and his notorious $5 million pandemic book deal, as well as to cover the cost of defending him in impeachment proceedings. Former executive assistant Brittany Commisso, who accused Cuomo of groping her, also has a case against the ex-gov still pending in state court. Boylan, who accused Cuomo of sexual harassment in December 2020, lauded the fact that Bennett would receive some recompense. 'I am glad the state finally did what Andrew Cuomo will not – accept responsibility for the harm his harassment caused Charlotte. Proud of her courage always,' she said Friday. — Additional reporting by Craig McCarthy and Hannah Fierick
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Yahoo
Mechanicville man sentenced for Medicaid fraud
A Mechanicville man was sentenced to one year in prison and was ordered to pay back more than $3 million to Medicaid in Otsego County Court on Monday, March 24. Chief Assistant District Attorney Christopher J. Di Donna said Philip Mtui pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted grand larceny in Otsego County Court March 3. He was sentenced by Judge John Lambert to one year in prison, told to pay back $3,165,413 to Medicaid and he agreed to never again engage in the Medicaid transportation business individually, as a corporation or through a third party. Mtui, who was owner of Phinaliz Communications LLC, a company based in Otsego County, was arrested Aug. 24, 2023 after a joint investigation by the state Comptroller's Office, the Otsego County District Attorney's Office, the Otsego County Sheriff's Office, the Oneonta Police Department and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, a Daily Star archive article stated. The Otsego County Department of Probation, the Otsego County Department of Social Services, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, the Oneida County Sheriff's Office, the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office and the East Greenbush Police Department also assisted in the investigation. Phinaliz Communications was enrolled in the Medicaid program as a participating transportation provider for Medicaid recipients, the article stated. Under Medicaid regulations, patients may use transportation services for legitimate appointments which are billed to the Medicaid program by the provider. The investigation revealed that during a four-year period Medicaid was billed for rides that didn't happen, or were billed double, triple or quadruple the rate of the rides that did occur, officials said previously. Investigators found that Medicaid enrollees were being paid kickbacks by the company to use their service and provide their information to facilitate the alleged crimes, the article stated. According to the article, the crime ring was exposed through a multi-year investigation by state, local and federal authorities involving extensive surveillance and the execution of a search warrant on company headquarters. Mbaga Kaiza, who was the operational manager of the company, was also arrested in 2023, the article stated. Di Donna said Kaiza has not pleaded guilty to any charge and his trial is scheduled to begin May 5.
Washington Post
20-03-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and General Assembly leaders reach budget deal
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) and Democratic leaders of the General Assembly on Thursday announced a deal to balance the state budget using a combination of deep cuts and new taxes to fill a more than $3 billion deficit. After months of deliberating over tax reforms, spending cuts and new revenue sources, the governor and leaders of the Democratic-controlled state legislature presented a united front signaling that they have found an approach they can all agree on to balance the budget. 'No one up here wants to talk about cuts, no one wants to talk about revenue,' House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D-Baltimore County) said at a news conference Thursday afternoon. 'But responsibly governing means having the tough conversations. It means doing what is right, not just what is politically convenient.' The state faces a budget hole deeper than any seen since the Great Recession, and the gap between revenue and spending has only widened in the first months of Donald Trump's second presidency. The White House's moves to fire federal workers, claw back federal grants and contracts, and downsize or move federal agencies out of the Washington region have threatened to upend Maryland's economy even more. The Comptroller's Office projected an additional $280 million in lost revenue in early March because of the changes within the federal government. 'We will never compromise, ever, on protecting Marylanders against any threat, no matter who makes it,' Moore said. 'And that's exactly what this budget delivers. This is a product of days and weeks and months of partnership.' Lawmakers said they found an additional $500 million in cuts, though they also restored some of what the governor had proposed to slash from entities like the Developmental Disabilities Administration. In total, about $2.3 billion was lopped off of the state budget in cuts and fund transfers. The rest of the state's deficit will be filled with increased revenue coming from a combination of tax reforms, tax hikes, and new taxes and fees detailed in the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act. Although Democrats appear to be close to passing a balanced budget, Republican lawmakers, who are in the minority in the General Assembly, raised concerns over the majority's approach. Several Republicans in Annapolis said the state isn't treating the budget crisis like the financial emergency that it is and argued the state should be pursuing more drastic cost-cutting measures. Dels. Kathy Szeliga (R-Baltimore County) and Robin L. Grammer Jr. (R-Baltimore County) suggested curbing departmental spending and foregoing new legislation this session that costs the state more money. 'These legislators are not taking this crisis seriously,' Szeliga said. Below is a breakdown of what is in the deal reached by Democrats and what isn't. Moore in January proposed an overhaul of the state's tax system that he said would make it more fair, modern and simple. The most significant changes to the income tax sought by the governor included two new income brackets for the state's highest earners and eliminating itemized deductions and doubling the standard deduction for all filers. Lawmakers kept the governor's pitch for two new tax brackets for people making more than $500,000 and $1 million, with new rates of 6.25 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively. They also agreed to limit itemized deductions for high earners, while allowing low- and middle-income earners to continue itemizing. Their plan will phase out itemized deductions for people making over $200,000, so that the amount of itemized deductions allowed gets smaller as a taxpayer makes more money. The standardized deduction, meanwhile, will increase by 20 percent, which will slightly decrease tax bills for many filers. The vast majority of Marylanders will either see a tax cut or no change in their tax bill, Moore said, though it was not clear how big those cuts would be. Nearly 6 in 10 Maryland taxpayers would see a lower tax bill, about the same as in Moore's original proposal. About 6 percent of taxpayers would see a tax increase, Moore said, largely concentrated among high earners. The governor on Thursday said that he came into the legislative session with three guiding principles for the state's budget: reforming the state tax code without asking the middle class to pay more, growing the state's economy by making Maryland more business friendly, and investing in the state's people. 'This is what good governance looks like,' he said. 'It is responsible, and it takes every requirement that we laid out at the start of session.' Democrats in the General Assembly said they plan to pass a 3 percent tax on data and internet technology services, including services like iCloud storage and web hosting services. That tax will raise about $500 million and apply to consumers and businesses. The proposal replaces a business-to-business services tax that received significant pushback from the business community over the past two weeks. 'As our economy increasingly becomes digital, this revenue expansion acknowledges the growing role of IT in our daily lives and business operations,' Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) said at a news conference. The budget consensus also includes a new 2 percent surcharge on capital gains, which will help shore up the state's transportation budget. Some existing taxes and fees will go up. Legislative leaders agreed to implement the governor's plan to raise taxes on cannabis sales from 9 percent to 12 percent and sports betting from 15 percent to 20 percent. House lawmakers are proposing several vehicle-related fees to boost the state's transportation trust fund, though that new revenue is not part of the budget deal announced Thursday and will need to be negotiated. Under the House plan, fees for the Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program go up to a maximum of $30, and title and registration fees will go up. The state would also increase the vehicle excise sales tax to 6.8 percent, instead of eliminating the trade-in allowance, and create a 3.5 percent excise tax on short-term vehicle rentals. Lawmakers will not take up Moore's proposed increase to the tax on table gaming, his 75-cent delivery fee or his corporate tax cut. Lawmakers will also keep the state's inheritance and estate tax as is, ending debate over Moore's idea to eliminate the inheritance tax and make more Marylanders eligible for the estate tax. A tax on sugary drinks and snacks, which Moore opposed, was also ruled out. One revenue-raising option that wasn't fully resolved by lawmakers in their plan is the pitch to implement combined reporting in Maryland. Moore backed passing combined reporting, which has been passed out of the House of Delegates before. The Senate, however, has not embraced the policy and it would face tough odds in that chamber this year. Even if the policy passed this year, the state wouldn't see new revenue for at least two years, so it does not affect the fiscal 2026 budget. After the House Appropriations and Ways and Means committees vote on the amendments to the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act, the budget will go to the House floor. The Senate will consider the bill after the House has passed it. Once the bill passes both chambers, it will go to Moore's desk for his signature. Dana Munro contributed to this report.
