This free-spending city is now under review by Broward’s top watchdog

Lisa J. Huriash, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
·4 min read

The top government watchdog for Broward County has started looking into Tamarac city commissioners’ latest decisions to boost their travel, spending and job perks, the South Florida Sun Sentinel has learned.

A series of stories by the newspaper revealed that city commissioners had given themselves lucrative perks and benefits and were set to consider even more, drawing an outcry from the public. Now, the Broward Office of the Inspector General is taking a broad look at the commissioners’ dealings, sources with details of the inquiry have told the Sun Sentinel. The inspector has asked for records that detail:

  • A new ordinance for a $15,000 travel allowance for each of the five commissioners, in which they can be reimbursed without showing any receipt of how they spend money.

  • Details from a September meeting in which commissioners authorized a $25,000 personal initiative fund, as well as details from two February meetings in which the commission majority signed off on its new $15,000 local travel budget.

  • All of the city’s ordinances and policies for travel since 2018 for both city employees and city staff.

  • A March 28 memo that details a slew of a newly proposed perks for the city commissioners, including full health care coverage, education, retirement, office furniture and stipends for education and technology — as well as all emails to and from the financial services director about it.

Local government should be regulated by the best practices of openness, transparency and accountability, said Anthony V. Alfieri, a University of Miami law professor and director of the Center for Ethics & Public Service.

“The inexplicable absence of an expense-documentation requirement not only undermines these best practice norms but also makes a mockery out of the notion of civic self-governance,” Alfieri said. “Whether or not the inspector general, or any other federal state or local law enforcement authority, finds wrongdoing, the overarching issue for the city of Tamarac is to demand accountability and oversight of its elected officials.”

The Broward Office of the Inspector General does not comment on investigations.

Scrutiny over free spending

Tamarac has been criticized over the years for a host of benefits the politicians afford themselves. They already receive a salary, discounts on camp for their children, free use of the city pool and gym, a pension and health insurance, and a car and phone stipend. They also share a pot of $55,000 for out-of-town travel for conferences and conventions.

The latest round of perks that were proposed, but not brought to the commission for approval, was initiated by Commissioner Marlon Bolton. He had asked the city manager for the city to fully cover health insurance for city commissioners as well as their families, and make the $15,000 local travel allowance retroactive to last October.

The inspector general’s inquiry came up during a public meeting Wednesday, when Commissioner Mike Gelin explained how the commissioners had decided to back off a controversial plan. The city had considered spending up to $50,000 to root out the identity of a whistleblower who tipped off the Sun Sentinel about a proposed spending plan detailed in the March 28 memo.

Sources say the identity of the whistleblower is irrelevant to the inspector general, whose job entails ferreting out fraud, mismanagement and corruption in the halls of government.

The rules for spending

Tamarac officials have argued over the years that their travel helps the city and serves a public purpose. They have argued it allows them the chance to learn how to do their jobs better, get ideas for city improvements and programs, network and lobby.

Tamarac’s travel spending led to a yearlong investigation of official misconduct once before.

Among some noteworthy findings from a prior review by the inspector general, dating to 2017:

  • Bolton went to a conference in Orlando within seven months of being elected. But since the training was designed for politicians seeking re-election or higher office, “it raises the question of what public purpose this training served,” the inspector general said.

  • The investigation noted that city leaders used a car service for airport trips, even though they also collect a $700 monthly car allowance.

  • The investigation also noted that multiple commissioners charged the city for their per-diem meal reimbursements, even though the conference brochures showed the meal was included. Although there were multiple overpayments, there also were “a number of occasions” where commissioners did not request their per-diem reimbursement that they were likely entitled to.

The inspector general wrapped up the 2017 review by concluding that any alleged wrongdoing was unfounded. With this new inquiry, the inspector general could have more to look into as far as allegations of lack of oversight and best practices and potential misconduct, when there appears to be no accountability to be reimbursed with taxpayer money, Alfieri said.

“Tamarac seems to be failing that test,” Alfieri said.