Madison school taxpayers on the hook for stays at four-star hotels

MD Kittle:

In total, district employees racked up $44,723 worth of hotel bills and $10,036 worth of restaurant bills in last year, according to EAGnews, which reviewed district credit card statements and check registers.

On the spending list:

$15,474.22 charged at Hyatt Hotels in Chicago on July 13, 2011.

$3,133.55 at the Sheraton NY Hotel and Towers on Jan. 6, 2011.

$4,736 in charges at Hotel 71 in downtown Chicago on Dec. 19, 2011

Two transactions -each worth $288.96 - were made at the Rio Suites in Las Vegas on April 27, 2011.

$223.57 in charges at the Heidel House Resort and Spa on June 23. There was another charge of $756.64 at the same resort six days later.

The spending occurred as Madison Metro and its teachers stressed over apparent deep cuts in state aid and the implementation of Act 10, the law, led by Gov. Scott Walker, that gutted collective bargaining for most public employees.

James Howard, president of the Madison Metropolitan School Board, told Wisconsin Reporter the nearly $55,000 in credit card charges for hotels and restaurants represent a fraction of the district's approximately $376 million budget. The board, Howard said, thought the expenditures were "reasonable."

"The real question is for us, do we have procedures in place, checks and balances to make sure we don't have unreasonable expenses in this area?" he said, noting the board is considering that question as the result of EAG's investigation.

It boils down to simple economics, Howard said.

Related: 2012-2013 Madison school district $376,200,000 ($15,132 for each of its 24,861 students) budget notes and links.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at September 14, 2012 8:08 AM
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