Feds: AmeriCorps Violated Budget Law (How Convenient!) [View All]

[DUreader]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-2963232,00.html



WASHINGTON (AP) - The parent agency of the
AmeriCorps program violated federal budget law in
approving more volunteer positions than it had
scholarship money to support, the agency's
inspector general said in a report Monday.

J. Russell George, inspector general for the
Corporation for National and Community Service,
blamed the violation on ``inadequate oversight,
flawed membership and financial reporting
systems, job responsibilities for key personnel that
were either not well-defined or adhered to'' and
ineffective communication among managers.

The 17-page report named several current and
former senior employees as responsible for
violation of the Anti-deficiency Act.

The violation, if proved intentional, can be
punishable by removal from office, small fines or
jail time. The report did not find any willful
violations, although George said his office still was
investigating.