LATHAM — A special education provider inappropriately billed taxpayers more than $180,000 and used public money to pay for a home entertainment center, a Disney World vacation and a dishwasher, according to a new state comptroller audit. State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said the directors of Achievements PLLC used the money to enrich themselves, their family members and staff. The audit found that executive director Tami Callister and her husband, the group's business director, spent $68,072 on goods and services for their family. That includes a $12,616 home entertainment center, a cruise, tickets to Dave Matthews Band and Phish concerts, fencing and annual membership fees to a family recreation center. Achievements, which has a staff of 100, provides early intervention and special education services to about 200 children aged 2 to 5 in Albany, Rensselaer and Schenectady counties. The counties pay tuition reimbursement to Achievements using rates set by the State Education Department. The state then reimburses the counties about 60 percent of that cost. Callister earned an annual salary of $148,000 and her husband was paid $138,000. They also paid their two children $250 bi-weekly throughout the school year for administrative work and also hired both of their mothers. The case has been referred to District Attorney David Soares' office and is under investigation. Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/loca.....62.php#ixzz2CoEDCRqt |
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