Show Misappropriation of Funds By Ru Joe Joe Inn Dixon Staff Writer According to a recent article published published published pub pub- by The Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake Community college misspent about in state funds restricted for custom designed employee training pro pro- grams allegedly also took from employer cash contributions from local businesses businesses businesses busi busi- nesses to train their employees and due Hm to accounting errors later denied them training The state funds were allegedly spent covering salary and education expenses at the Larry H. H Miller campus These funds were restricted for a cus cus- tom-designed tom employee training program unrelated to where the money was spent has endured layoffs and program closures in the wake of state budget cuts and a college wide reorganization for the past five years The audit on the college was controlled by Utah College of Applied Technology President Greg Fitch in follow up to another er investigation which found problems with the schools school's financial financial financial finan finan- cial controls and situations where President Lynn Cundiff allegedly skirted the competitive competitive tive bid process In an interview with The Salt Lake Tribune new business business business busi busi- ness vice president Don Porter said I dont don't want to cast aspirations aspirations aspirations at the auditor but I dont don't think he went as deep as he might have gone All custom fit funds were used for custom fit es The difference between fit custom funds and employer contributions is by state law the custom fit funds fonds must only be used for employee training whereas employer contributions can be used to cover associated salaries and supplies has been relying partly on employer contributions to fund training during a three-month three period between the time the academic year ends and the fiscal year vear j i begins Rather than get into a nitpicking nitpicking nitpicking nit nit- picking contest that I dont don't think any of us will win we decided See FUNDS on page 3 x o FUNDS continued from page 1 lets conclude the discussion and get on with life said Porter inThe in inThe The Salt Lake Tribune Were not embarrassed by the audit but if we are doing anything wrong we want to fix it The audit comes after months of turmoil at involving allegations that Cundiff who stepped down down a few months shy of his third year as president to take a job in the private sector has recklessly high high- spent college savings on tech upgrades Coupled with unrelated allegations allegations alle- alle of racial and gender discrimination discrimination dis- dis crimination and cronyism that came to a head with the resignation resignation director director tion of equal employment tor Clyde W. W Johnson the audit has school officials fearing for reputation C |