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Posted: 5:22 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21, 2012
By Martina Valverde
El Paso County
El PASO, Texas —
Millions of dollars in property and state taxes are spent by the Emergency Services District every year, but there is concern some of that money in District 2 is being misspent.
El Paso County Judge Veronica Escobar called for an audit earlier this year after the district didn't present its own internal audit.
KFOX 14 went through the more than 50 pages of the 2011 audit, and in the last few of those pages, titled "Findings and Questioned Costs," it shows tens of thousands of dollars that were reimbursed without proper documentation.
District 2 oversees El Paso County volunteer fire departments, including those in San Elizario, Montana Vista Vinton, Canutillo, Socorro, Clint and Fabens.
The audit shows the Clint Fire Department was reimbursed more than a thousand dollars, without justification, for a trip to Las Vegas.
The San Eli department was reimbursed more than $14,000 last August for fuel, also without backup details.
In total, the audit concludes the San Eli Fire Department reimbursed a total of nearly $28,000 without sufficient supporting documents.
KFOX 14 called the vice president of the board, who said the Vegas trip was for a fire conference. He then referred all questions to the board president, Carlos Sandoval, who then referred the questions to the district administrator.
Becky Terrazas sent a statement that, in part, states new financial procedures were approved just last month, and all questions regarding spending have been resolved.
Monday, El Paso County commissioners will discuss the audit.
One thing hasn't been resolved. Sandoval and Montana Vista Fire Chief Robert Ostrenga remain under investigation.
They are accused of not following protocol in the sale and purchase of fire department-owned trucks.
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